Ted’s Tuesday Tips: Wandering Ego’s in a week where Newmarket shines

Ed Quigley was in flying form over the weekend, including a 15-2 winning selection, and is back with his horses to be keeping an eye on over the course of the week...

Wednesday

Perth - 2.33 Wandering Ego

Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen are always a team to fear, and emphatic Wetherby Bumper winner WANDERING EGO has to be respected as he heads over Hurdles for the first time in public. The five-year-old makes his seasonal reappearance, and it is rare that a runner from that yard will be lacking in fitness after 6 months off, and he could take some stopping here if putting in a nice display of jumping. 

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This looks the perfect introduction to life over obstacles, and this unexposed individual looks more than capable of making his presence felt based on bumper ability alone. Sean Bowen is riding around a 35% strike-rate for September and I like the chances of this gelding here. 

Goodwood - 3.35 Ancient Wisdom

ANCIENT WISDOM drops down to Listed level for the first time in over two years, and for an individual who has frequently forayed into Group 1 company over the last couple of seasons, this understandably looks the easiest assignment on paper that he has tackled for a considerable amount of time. 

Officially rated 114, he is the class act in this field, and recent rain that has hit the Sussex venue should leave underfoot conditions spot-on for him, and it can only aid his cause as he drops back to 10f.

It is becoming evident that he doesn't like Epsom, but if he can repeat the level of form he showed when runner-up in the Gordon Richards Stakes, he won't be far away here.

Perth - 4.15 Whistle Stop Tour

The end of last season ended on a bit of a low note for WHISTLE STOP TOUR, but this looks a golden opportunity to regain the winning thread.

The seven-year-old found life a bit tough at Cheltenham in January, and then had a luckless run at The Festival itself. It was probably a case of one run too many for the season when fifth at this venue on his final start of the campaign at Perth in April. 

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Arriving here fresh, taking on a small field, cut in the ground and with blinkers on for the first time all look like positives. It is also worth noting that he is taking on an out-of-sorts field, and Whistle Stop Tour himself has been eased to a mark of 133, meaning he is only 3lb higher than last successful. Derek Fox takes the ride, and this combination has very solid claims.

Thursday

Perth - 4.18 Chasing Fire

Probably my strongest fancy of the week, and that would be in the shape of the Olly Murphy trained CHASING FIRE. The eight-year-old has a good record at Perth, with form figures of 1st and 3rd, and so a return to this venue can only be seen as a positive. 

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The previous Course and Distance winner will enjoy the step back up in trip and looks to be more than fairly treated off a mark of 131. Cut in the ground will be spot on for him, and both jockey and trainer are in good form. 

It is also worth noting that Chasing Fire has an excellent record when fresh, so I wouldn't be put off by the fact he has been off the track for 154 days, and if anything, first time out for the season is often the time to catch him. 

Friday

Newmarket - 2.25 Touleen

Owen Burrows may give the green light to TOULEEN to get thrown in the deep end and tackle Group 2 company in the Rockfel, and if she does I don't think she will be out of place. With unexposed types of this nature, it is often the impression they left on you more than anything that can be quantified.

Plus this daughter of Lope De Vega has definitely made people sit up and take note after bolting up in two minor events. 

She won nicely on debut at Newbury, and then fairly romped home at Leicester in the manner of an individual who looks well worth a crack at a much tougher encounter. 

Touleen’s two from two, and I wouldn't be surprised if she continued to turn heads now upped significantly in Grade. Will Buick has been earmarked for the ride, and if this combination makes the gig, it would only heighten confidence. 

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Newmarket - 3.00 Opera Ballo

OPERA BALLO has won four of his five career starts, with the only defeat coming when well beaten by Field Of Gold in the Craven.

There is no disgrace in itself by being beaten by a horse of that calibre, but it didn't look anywhere near a true reflection of his running as he was very edgy in the preliminaries, and had possibly boiled over by the time the main event started. 

Subsequently, Opera Ballo has worn a hood and he has settled and looked much more polished on both occasions, as he has produced smart performances to win at Listed level, and can carry that momentum on to this level. Charlie Appleby has him in fine fettle at the moment, and I will be siding with this hattrick seeking colt.

Saturday

Newmarket - 3.00 Gstaad

This looks like being an ultra competitive and exciting renewal of the Middle Park Stakes, where there will be lots of Prix Morny form on display, and many of those individuals likely to lock horns once again. GSTAAD was an impressive winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and has hit the crossbar at the highest level on two occasions since. 

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He was beaten on the line in France, and then in the National Stakes he was pipped at the post once again, without appearing to do much wrong. 

If he makes the gig here, he has to be in the thick of the action once more. Aidan O'Brien will be looking for his fourth success in this race in the last 10 years, and looks to have a terrific chance with Gstaad should he make the journey across the Irish Sea.

Newmarket - 3.40 Cash

David Simcock trains CASH who could be capable of running a big race at attractive odds in the Cambridgeshire Handicap. The six-year-old is an enigmatic sort who hasn't won as much as he probably should have, but he isn't without an each-way shout here. Off a mark of 101, he is running off a joint career-low mark. 

He looks fairly versatile in regards to ground, and I think he looks ready for a return to this niche trip over 1m1f. It is also worth throwing in the fact that he won on his only previous visit to the venue, so we know to an extent that the track holds no fears. 

Likely to be ridden by Jamie Spencer, I expect the veteran rider to try and smuggle Cash into the contest, and hitting the frame at attractive odds would be far from a shock.

Ted's bets of the week

Wednesday

Perth - 2.33 Wandering Ego - 11/10 (Ladbrokes)

Goodwood - 3.35 Ancient Wisdom - 11/4 (Ladbrokes)

Perth - 4.15 Whistle Stop Tour - 11/4 (Ladbrokes)

Thursday

Perth - 4.18 Chasing Fire - 11/2 (Coral)

Friday

Newmarket - 2.25 Touleen - 5/4 (Coral)

Newmarket - 3.00 Opera Ballo - 4/7 (Coral)

Saturday

Newmarket - 3.00 Gstaad

Newmarket - 3.40 Cash e/w - 16/1 (Coral)

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Odds correct at the time of writing.