The Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket is three days of quality racing at Flat Racing Headquarters, suitably billed as being where the thrill of racing meets the spirited festivities of Oktoberfest!
The main events come across Friday and Saturday at Newmarket, with a host of Pattern-races including the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and the Cambridgeshire Handicap itself on Saturday afternoon.
Enda McElhinney has picked out some fancies across days two and three of the Cambridgeshire Meeting in some of the all-important races.
Friday
1.50 - Rosemary Stakes (Fillies' & Mares' Listed, 1m)
A really interesting Listed contest over the mile to begin Friday's card, with the likes of Coppice, Queen For You and Potapova all notables.
The latter pair were ahead of Coppice last time at Sandown in the Atalanta Stakes but a slipped saddle was no help there and, with Frankie Dettori back on board, the Kingman filly should do much better now.
SILVER LADY could be useful for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. She won at this course on debut in April in good style beating 15 rivals in a race that worked out well and was a close third in this grade at York on her only start since in May.
That race, too, has worked out well and back from a break she may have more to come under the champion jockey.
2.25 - Dubai Stakes (Fillies' & Mares' Group 3, 1m4f)
Running Lion was a hugely impressive winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes here at Newmarket in May and John & Thady Gosden's filly has leading claims now upped in trip, despite being winless in two runs since.
She flopped in the French Oaks in June, but last month's Salisbury Listed second was more like it.
Novakai and Sweet Memories are others worthy of consideration but SEA THEME for William Haggas and Tom Marquand gets the vote.
She is 2-2 over this trip since going close at Salisbury on debut in June. She easily won a Doncaster novice (soft) in July and once more stepped up on that when adding a Listed event at York (good to firm) last month.
A couple of her vanquished rivals from that race ran well in the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster's St Leger meeting since and she merits this rise in class now.
3.00 - Rockfel Stakes (Fillies' Group 2, 7f)
This looks like a talented bunch for the Rockfel.
Carla's Way, Alshinfarah and Zenjabeela are smart fillies with good experience, while Spiritual was an impressive debut winner for John & Thady Gosden at Leicester this month and Aidan O'Brien's Ylang Ylang may leave behind the memory her Group 1 Curragh disappointment last time.
That said, they may all have to go some to stop the unbeaten SHUWARI for Ollie Sangster and Oisin Murphy. She is 2-2 and readily fended off Fallen Angel to win the Listed Star Stakes at Sandown in July.
The runner-up has impressed since, bagging the Sweet Solera here in August and, impressively, the Group 1 Moyglare in Ireland this month. This filly could be top drawer.
3.35 - Joel Stakes (Group 2, 1m)
Chindit is in cracking form after wins at Haydock and Sandown in Group 3/Listed company already this month and the Richard Hannon inmate knows how to get the job done in this grade too.
Mutasaabeq is closely matched with him at their best, though hasn't really shown his top stuff this term. He does relish Newmarket however (4-5 here) and would be a major threat if granted a soft lead.
A chance is taken on MALJOOM for the Haggas/Marquand axis. The Caravaggio colt was unbeaten when he landed the German 2000 Guineas last season and then looked rather unlucky when a half-length fourth behind Coroebus in St James's Palace at Royal Ascot soon after.
Connections have had to be patient and, if he's ready for this, he has plenty of scope for more improvement on just his fifth start.
Saturday
2.25 - Cheveley Park Stakes (Fillies' Group 1, 6f)
Cherry Blossom was rather unlucky to bang into a bullet-train when second to One Look in the Goffs Million at the Curragh last weekend and it's interesting she is turned out here quickly by Aidan O'Brien with Ryan Moore back in the saddle.
She was, though, beaten fair and square by Relief Rally in the Lowther at York last month. The William Haggas filly is but a flared nostril from still being uneaten, her only setback having come when second to Crimson Advocate in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot over 5f.
She did it well at York when upped to this trip and is a major player, as the odds will reflect.
SACRED ANGEL is a viable each-way chance for Charlie Johnston and James Doyle. She cruised to victory in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot in July on quick ground and can be forgiven a lesser effort since in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville on testing ground.
3.00 - Middle Park Stakes (Group 1, 6f)
River Tiber's unbeaten record went last month as he could only finish third behind VANDEEK in the Prix Morny at Deauville. Simon & Ed Crisford's charge did that well and is fancied now to confirm the form if he handles what is forecast to be a faster surface.
Jasour isn't one to write off despite being well held behind that pair in France - he didn't appear to relish conditions.
Frankel colt Task Force is 2-2 so far, quickly stepping up to win a Listed race at Ripon in August, though more will be needed now.
3.40 - Cambridgeshire (Heritage Handicap, 1m1f)
One of the key handicaps of the autumn, with more than £100k on offer to the winner at the end of the six-furlong spin across Newmarket.
Terwada won here in July for Ed Walker from the front and was far from disgraced at York under a penalty last month. He remains on a fair mark and can shine back at this venue.
Greek Order has won handicaps at Sandown (1m, good) and Newbury (1m2f, good to soft) on his last two starts and the Roger Charlton-trained Kingman colt has leading claims despite being 10lb higher now.
Dual Identity is in form and can be shortlisted with Oviedo and Astro King but EAGLE'S WAY might be worth some interest to get in the frame. He ended 2022 with a four-timer and went close on his comeback at Yarmouth in July.
Things haven't fallen his way at Goodwood and Sandown in two runs since, but it remains relatively early days for the Sir Mark Prescott inmate and an improved showing on a stage like this isn't written off.
