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Horse Racing

Anniversary can spark Newmarket celebration

October 2024

Anniversary can give weight and a beating to his rivals in the British Stallion Studs EBF Future Stayers Nursery Handicap at Newmarket on Wednesday.

Ralph Beckett's juvenile looked a smart prospect when making a winning debut on the July course in August, overcoming greenness to score with authority.

The form is fairly sound, with the third-placed King Of Cities going a couple of places better on his next start at Chester, so it was no surprise to see Anniversary go off a hot favourite to double his tally in far more demanding conditions at Epsom last month.

The Sea The Moon colt ultimately came up a little short under a penalty, but the winner Too Soon has since run with credit in the Group Three Zetland Stakes and a step up to 2000m should see Anniversary in a better light.

Fresh from Champions Day success with star sprinter Kind Of Blue, James Fanshawe must have every chance of adding to his tally with Surveyor in the My Pension Expert Fillies' Handicap.

The Cheveley Park Stud homebred has won twice this season, most recently striking gold at Ascot in July, and has since enjoyed podium finishes at Goodwood and Wolverhampton.

Things did not fall her way when third last time out as she encountered a troubled passage before finishing off strongly to be beaten only 2-lengths.

As a daughter of Pivotal, ease underfoot should not be an issue and a bold bid is anticipated.

Charlie Appleby rarely leaves the Rowley Mile without visiting the winner's enclosure and it is not too difficult to make a cogent case for Present Times in the British Stallion Studs EBF Future Stayers Novice Stakes.

There was huge promise in his debut effort here four weeks ago when he emerged best of the rest behind Ralph Beckett's hot favourite Seacruiser.

The third home Devil's Advocate absolutely bolted up at cramped odds at Chelmsford last week and Present Times will not need find much improvement to get off the mark himself.

All-weather action comes from Kempton, where Curzon catches the eye in the Unibet More Extra Place Races Nursery Handicap.

A son of trainer Martyn Meade's multiple Group One winner Advertise, the juvenile has hinted at ability in each of his three starts to date, most recently picking up a silver medal at Nottingham.

There should be more to come now he enters the handicap arena for the first time and an opening mark of 73 looks more than fair.

Instant Gambler can make it four wins on the spin for trainer Alexandra Dunn in the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Handicap Chase at Fontwell.

A fairly moderate hurdler, the eight-year-old has proved a completely different proposition since having his attentions turned to the larger obstacles, twice winning comfortably over this course and distance before completing his hat-trick decisively at Hexham.

The manner of his most recent triumph in Northumberland suggested a 7-point rise in the weights will not be beyond him.

Dan and Harry Skelton combine for some good chances at Southwell, the best of which could prove to be Deep Purple in the Download The At The Races App Open National Hunt Flat Race.

The point-to-point graduate looked more than capable of winning in this sphere when filling the runner-up spot at Warwick three weeks ago and this looks an ideal opportunity. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Wednesday. Here are the tips.

NEWMARKET: Race 1: 14.45 Misty Sky, Race 2: 15.20 Eternal Force, Race 3: 15.55 Mersea Island, Race 4: 16.30 ANNIVERSARY (NAP), Race 5: 17.05 Surveyor, Race 6: 17.40 Present Times, Race 7: 18.15 We Dare To Dream.

FONTWELL: Race 1: 14.55 Walden, Race 2: 15.30 Easter Icon, Race 3: 16.05 Mutual Respect, Race 4: 16.40 Junkanoo, Race 5: 17.15 Instant Gambler, Race 6: 17.45 Miss Popalong.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 15.08 Next Left, Race 2: 15.43 Fancy Stuff, Race 3: 16.18 Deep Purple, Race 4: 16.53 Irish Chorus, Race 5: 17.28 Holokea, Race 6: 18.00 Goblet Of Fire, Race 7: 18.33 Stuti.

KEMPTON: Race 1: 17.00 Hierarchy, Race 2: 17.35 Curzon, Race 3: 18.08 Transparent, Race 4: 18.40 Char, Race 5: 19.10 Qazaq, Race 6: 19.40 King David, Race 7: 20.10 Unreal Connection, Race 8: 20.40 Fantasy Believer, Race 9: 21.10 Cadoga Place.

ALL TO COME: Anniversary and Present Times (Newmarket, Races 4 and 6).

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