Cambridgeshire Meeting tips: Alex Scott's six best bets

The William Haggas-trained son of Wootton Bassett can stamp his class on this field and continue his progression with a win in the first Group race of the meeting on Thursday.

Given a good education on debut in June after a slow start put him on the back foot, Mezzo Forte took a big step forward at the beginning of the month when upped in trip to seven furlongs, where he broke smartly and made all to score by two and a half lengths.

The runner-up has subsequently won impressively and, whilst this will be a different test away from York for the first time on quicker ground, he looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement and Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle.

Gregory sets a high standard in this two-mile event, but he has only been seen twice since the 2024 Doncaster Cup. Though he did win at York in June, he has not been seen on a racecourse since and he is clearly far from straightforward. It therefore may be worth taking the Gosden runner on at short odds in a race littered with upsets this decade.

With three places on offer, one of the most interesting runners is James Owen’s Magnetude at 12-1. The three-year-old has progressed from an opening mark of 72 to 94 this year courtesy of two victories and two runner-up efforts, including an agonisingly close second from the front over on the July Course two months ago.

He found the Gordon Stakes too tough last time, looking outpaced down in trip against stronger opposition, but he has since been gelded and this step up to two miles looks a big positive for a horse whose pedigree is full of stamina.

He is the most obvious front runner in this race, another positive over this course and distance, and he has the excellent Cieren Fallon booked from an inside draw.

Andrew Balding’s progressive three-year-old looks likely to appreciate this return to a mile and a half after a fourth-placed finish in the Park Hill at Doncaster two weeks ago.

The daughter of Territories had previously run out a hugely impressive winner of the Listed Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor Festival over this trip, taking her record to two wins from two starts over the distance.

The slight concern is that her two best efforts, which she has recorded on her last two starts, have both been on good to soft ground, but I am inclined to think she is just an improving filly. She certainly ran well enough earlier in the year on good to firm ground (finishing second on two occasions) to suggest conditions this week should not be a problem. 

Though she was sent off the 9-4 favourite at Doncaster last time, this looks a more winnable race, and it is possible a similar level of performance could be good enough.

This looks set to be an absolutely brilliant renewal of the Tattersalls-sponsored Group One, with Sun Goddess, Senorita Bonita and LIbertango (the top three in the market) having already collected over £1.3 million in prize money and seven Group race victories between them.

Preference is for Aidan O’Brien’s daughter of Sioux Nation, who has already struck twice at the top level and has been super impressive on the past two occasions. Firstly, when overcoming trouble in running to win Harry’s Half Million by six lengths at York and then by an even wider margin in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh two weeks ago.

It is true she was beaten a length by Libertango at Royal Ascot, but she has since taken her form to a new level. I have no problem with the drop back down to six furlongs, as she has speed in abundance, though she should also have no problem seeing out a mile next year judged by the way she saw out seven furlongs last time.

The last two three-year-olds to win the Cambridgeshire were both trained by John Gosden and the current favourite Gavriel does have similarities in his profile to the yard’s most recent winner Lord North.

However, he is getting increasingly short in the market and there looks to be at least a couple of other well-handicapped runners in here at much bigger odds that have been put away for the second half of the summer with this race in mind.

Firstly, the Ralph Beckett-trained Beagle Bay, who goes up a furlong in trip but has been hugely consistent this year, winning three times from four starts. He remains lightly-raced and the form of his win over a stiff mile at Sandown last time has been significantly boosted since, with runner-up Raammee going on to win the John Smith's Cup and a competitive heritage handicap at the Ebor Meeting. The third and sixth have also won since.

The 5lb rise for that win looks lenient and he has looked strong at the finish in his two most recent races, so this extra furlong in a big field looks an obvious positive.

Another four-year-old who catches the eye is Asmen Warrior, who came from the rear to win at Newmarket's July Festival on fast ground and shaped well at Ascot on King George day two weeks later, only to be undone by a lack of pace. Despite the fact it turned into a sprint finish, he was only beaten two and a half lengths.

That same scenario is extremely unlikely in this race, and with a strong pace to aim at, he can resume his progression for his shred trainer. He is a proven stayer over further than this and conditions should be spot on, whilst Marco Ghiani, who rode him to his most recent success, is back on board.

Back both runners each-way with generous place terms on offer.