Champions Day at Newmarket 2009

Champions Day at Newmarket on Saturday 17th October provides a terrific days racing again with the centre piece being the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes worth £350,000.00. The race is for 3 year olds and above and will be run over 1 mile 2 furlongs. Fame and Glory is the favourite but he disappointed in the Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe two weeks ago and might well be past his best after a long season. Sariska (pictured) comes here a fresh horse. Her last three runs have all been over 12 furlongs. She was just beaten last time by Dar Re Mi in the Yorkshire Oaks. Kieren Fallon comes in for the ride as Jamie Spencer is on “forced holiday”. Never on Sunday comes over from France and has smart form over 10 furlongs. The trainer and jockey won this race two years ago with Literato. If Fame and Glory is not at his best Sariska could be the one to topple him and she looks the each way value.
The Totesport Cesarewitch worth £160,000.00 is a thorough stamina test run over 2 miles 2 furlongs. Trainers of predominately National Hunt horses have won this race four times over the last six runnings. With a maximum field of 34 runners a draw higher than 18 is an advantage, although old Caracciola came from draw 11 last season. Kieren Fallon comes in for the ride on Fair Along who seems to have been around for ages but is still only seven. He was placed in the race two years ago and Mamlook from the David Pipe yard was placed last year. Those two together with the handicap good thing, Darley Sun, make up my short list.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".