Juvenile Watch: Ross Millar's best bets for Newmarket on Saturday

It’s a bumper weekend of action for the juvenile division, the culmination of which will be Saturday’s Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. I’ve taken a look at the seven main races across Friday and Saturday.

I’m surprised to see such a disparity in prices between the favourite, Prince Of Pillo, and Crispy Cat. There is just 1lb between them on official figures and Michael O’Callaghan’s charge has already finished in front of the Keith Dalgleish-trained colt in the Flying Childers on his last start.

It’s a mild concern that this will be his eighth start of the season, but the same was true of Blackbeard in the Middle Park, and I hope that like him, Crispy Cat can put his superior experience to good use.

He was in the firing line from the outset at Doncaster and, while he was unable to concede 3lb to Trillium and The Platinum Queen (who has since franked the form), he still emerged with real credit. He’s got the strongest form and looks overpriced.

Eve Johnson Houghton has enjoyed an excellent season and is represented by Rage Of Bamby who delivered a strong performance last time out when finishing a fine third to Commissioning in the Group Two Rockfel Stakes.

This drop in grade makes her a tempting option but I can’t shake the thought that she didn’t truly stay the 7f last time.

Lose Yourself is short on experience but made a big impression when running out a comfortable winner on her debut on the July course.

The form of that win has been well franked, with the second, fourth and sixth-placed fillies all winning on their next starts. She raced with real maturity for a debutant and was a cosy winner, suggesting she had plenty more to give.

This represents a big step up in grade but her trainer, Ralph Beckett, is not one to tilt at windmills.

I’m confident Defence Of Fort is better than he showed last time in the Solario Stakes at Sandown. On that occasion he over-raced in the early stages and also found himself posted widest of all around the bend.

His early exertions meant he was never going to challenge for the victory but he impressed me with his tenacity before getting hampered in the final furlong.

This represents a drop in class and the large field should afford him plenty of cover and a strong pace to challenge off. He will be in receipt of 6lb from the favourite, Streets Of Gold, and has the ability to make that count.

Commissioning will be a warm favourite here, and rightly so. She’s run to a good level on both starts and has experience of this track.

However, as I mentioned in my review after the Rockfel Stakes, I am cautious of her head carriage in the closing stages. She showed plenty of speed on that occasion and, while she did stay on well, this extra furlong will require her to dig deeper.

If there is a kink in her attitude, then Polly Pott at an each-way price can be the one to expose it. She comfortably beat the re-opposing Novakai in the May Hill on her last start, travelling comfortably the best before staying on strongly without looking all out. This represents a step up but I’m sure there is more to come.

Commissioning will likely get to the front first but I fancy Harry Dunlop’s filly to run her down and show more resolve inside the final half-furlong. It would be a great send-off as he prepares to leave the training ranks at the end of the season.

On the face of it, being beaten at long odds-on would suggest that Flying Honours under-performed in the Royal Lodge.

However, the winner, The Foxes, is held in high regard by trainer Andrew Balding, so I wouldn’t be put off by just a half-length defeat in a race which was run slowly in the early stages.

Flying Honours had previously run out a wide-margin winner of a Listed contest at Salisbury. The form of that race has been well boosted with the runner-up, Stormbuster running out a wide-margin winner of a strong conditions race on his next start.

There is plenty of stamina in the pedigree – his brother, Snow Tempest, is a winner over 1m6f – so he’s certain to appreciate this stiff test. He is a short enough price but I’m surprised he isn’t odds-on given that he looks to have outstanding credentials.

Holloway Boy had no answer to the brilliant Nostrum over 7f last time, yet he stuck to his task tenaciously, pulling three lengths clear of the third-placed Victory Dance. It was arguably a career-best from the Chesham winner.

This extra furlong will suit him well and I anticipate it bringing about further improvement.

He can upset the vulnerable favourite, Silver Knott, who looked to have his limitations exposed when well beaten on his last start.

A Dewhurst that is sadly missing Sakheer who, having been supplemented on Monday, has subsequently returned an unsatisfactory scope and won’t now be seen again this season.

Chaldean has once again been underestimated in the market. He looked impressive last time in the Champagne Stakes, where the soft ground brought his stamina into play. Quicker ground may not suit him as well, though the uphill finish will. I expect him to make a bold bid from the front and he will not be easy to pass.

Naval Power brings an unbeaten record into the race but is stepping up considerably in grade, as well as dropping back a furlong in trip. I’d be surprised if he had the pace to win.

Aesop’s Fables lacked the required stamina when finishing tamely over 7f in the National Stakes but that was on softer ground, which certainly didn’t aid his cause. He can do better.

Nostrum has looked full of class on both his starts. On his debut at Sandown he got to the front far earlier than ideal, yet showed an excellent attitude under Ryan Moore. Post-race it was clear from the demeanour of the usually stoic Moore that he felt he had ridden a colt of real promise.

He delivered on that promise last time in the Tattersalls Stakes over this course and distance, where after travelling beautifully he showed a potent turn of foot.

Experience of the Rowley Mile is invaluable and while he has to step forward again, at least on official figures, it’s likely that as a pupil of Sir Michael Stoute – the master of the slow-burner – he has plenty more to give.