There is some interesting two year old action on the second day of the Future Champions’ Festival.
The Autumn Stakes at 2:35 will provide a valuable form line for Emotionless fans as the runner-up from the Champagne Stakes, Ibn Malik, lines up against seven rivals. Aidan O’Brien’s Beacon Rock had trouble in running when a close third over a mile last time and drops back a furlong but could need to improve quite significantly to win. Jim Bolger’s Clear Cut looks interesting, coming here on the back of a debut defeat when favourite over six furlongs and Roger Varian’s Tiercel was also beaten favourite on debut but drops back from a mile – both trainers have won this in recent years. Gifted Master is the most experienced runner in the field, but should we take his thrashing of Waterloo Bridge at face value? This is one to watch with the notebook at hand for next year.
After the two big feature races, the Zetland Stakes (4:25) sees ten facing the starter. Richard Hannon’s Taskeen beat Tiercel at Sandown on soft ground over a mile and looks a good prospect, as does Brian Meehan’s Bath winner Calvinist, the only ten furlong winner in the field. Jim Bolger’s filly Glamorous Approach has more than two lengths to find with Aidan O’Brien’s Landofhopeandglory as they were second and third last time at Naas in a nursery; however, she is five pounds better off with the fillies’ allowance. Ormito was a facile seven length winner of a soft ground Haydock maiden but may not have beaten much, a remark that could also apply to the experienced Cartago, who beat six rivals at Yarmouth on quick ground. The most eye-catching form is that of Godolphin’s MOVE UP, a very easy winner of a mile event at Ripon, his second victory in three career starts, who should have no problem with the extra two furlongs.
