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Five horses to follow at Newmarket and York on Saturday

Last Updated: Fri 9 Oct 2026

Dave Nevison, Martin Dixon, Andy Stephens (RaceiQ) and Nic Doggett mark your card for the action across both fixtures, live on Racing TV.

2.25 Newmarket: Rock Montreal

Tipster: Andy Stephens (RaceiQ).

13/8

Home games are supposed to be easier than days on the road, but Roger Varian could be forgiven for thinking differently.

One of the leading trainers in Britain is based in Newmarket but has not had a winner at either of his home tracks – the Rowley Mile or July Course – for almost 13 months.

Since the trainer’s Silent City won a fillies’ handicap over a mile on the Rowley Mile Course in September 2025, he has had 26 successive losers on that track plus been zero from 13 on the July Course.

That is at odds with his overall RaceiQ Actual versus Expected, which is 1.01. That means his runners in the past year have exceeded expectations by 1 per cent despite his sticky spell a few minutes from his base.

By way of comparison, Varian’s neighbours Charlie Appleby (28), John & Thady Gosden (18) and William Haggas (14) have between them had 60 winners at Newmarket over the past 12 months, albeit having had many more runners.

But Saturday could be the day when Varian comes off the Newmarket Cold List. His one runner at Headquarters is Rock Montreal, who will carry the Godolphin silks in the Emirates Autum Stakes (2.25).

The Blue Point colt has a big stride – it peaked at 8.25 metres when he won on his debut at Yarmouth - but he took a bit of time to get organised when touched off by Forbidden Fire in Listed company over 7f at Doncaster last time.

His final furlong of 12.06sec was easily best but the finishing line came too soon for him. The winner finished third in the Fillies' Mile on Friday.

All his metrics point to him relishing moving up to a mile for the first time and he can give Varian an overdue triumph on home soil.

2.40 York: Frankies Dream

Tipster: Dave Nevison.

9/1

Frankies Dream has been a bit of a nightmare for punters, and has gone off at short prices in several handicaps, only to start slowly, pull too hard, and meet trouble in running.

However, if there is a scenario that suits him well, it is a big-field handicap over this sort of trip at York.

He will get the fast pace he needs to aim at, which should also enable Jennie Candlish’s gelding to navigate the gaps opened up by weakening rivals.

Frankies Dream had a mid-season lull in his form, but performed much better at Newcastle last time out, and has ideal conditions.

3.00 Newmarket: Darkness Falls

Tipster: Andy Stephens (RaceiQ).

13/8

Darkness Falls gets the vote in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket (3.00).

He is already favourite for the Derby after his impressive Group One win over nine furlongs at Leopardstown last time but the data tells us he is not short of speed, either, and now he gets the chance to advance his claims for the 2000 Guineas.

The Camelot colt has been swift to reach 20mph in each of his three races and built on an encouraging debut by romping home by seven lengths at The Curragh on his second start, when making all after dictating steady early fractions.

On his latest start he was always going fluently and his acceleration swept him clear. His Time Index of 9.7 when the meeting average was 8.1, was a standout on the day.

His rivals today include the unbeaten Desert Castle, who was promoted to the top of the 2000 Guineas betting after his smooth success in the Champagne Stakes. He is exciting but his two victories have been achieved in steadily run races and he is likely to face a different test.

3.17 York: Pellitory

Tipster: Martin Dixon.

I'm surprised Pellitory is available at odds of 17-2, at the time of writing. He won the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup on heavy ground two starts ago, and and backed up that run with a good effort in defeat at Ascot last weekend.

If he's got the breaks at the right time at Ascot, then I think he would have gone very close to winning again, so he's certainly not handicapped out of things off a rating of 104.

He's improved since the tongue tie was fitted, and obviously handles a bit of ease in the ground, which there was at York on Friday's card.

I believe he's also drawn on the right part of the track from stall three, and I'm surprised he's as big as he is. He's thriving, and is another I'll be siding with each-way. I'd also nominate him as my nap of the day.

3.40 Newmarket: Kirchner

Tipster: Nic Doggett.

12/1

Alphonse Le Grande is back to the same mark as when he finished a nose ahead of Manxman in the 2024 renewal, and both are of interest, but their best performances have come on much softer ground, so I'm more interested in some recent form that involves Manxman.

He was one place ahead of Kirchner at York in a strong race won by Small Fry (Mountain Road second), with Valedictory (re-opposes and is owned by the sponsors of this race) a spot further back. With the horses that finished either side of him winning since, it's Kirchner who makes most appeal from the same mark.

Runner-up in the Northumberland Plate, Kirchner impressed on quick ground when winning his next start at Ascot, and I didn't think Ryan Moore gave him at all a hard time when ridden with more restraint on the Knavesmire. He looks the best bet for me.

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