Well, what today we have in store today with top-class action from Newmarket (and boy is it top-class) as well as jump racing from Cheltenham. This day really marks the transition from flat racing to jump racing, but the big race is definitely the Dewhurst stakes at Newmarket.

How Good is Frankel?

Carl Harris, The Hit Man, Takes a Look at the Day’s Action and Mark Your Card with the Best Bets on Super Saturday..

I make no apologies for focusing on Newmarket today with one eye on Cheltenham for what promises to be a fantastic winter of National Hunt racing. The best of the action without a shadow of a doubt is the champion stakes card at Newmarket, which kicks off with a group 2 (1:50) and the return to action, at a meaningful level at least, of Delegator. A rating of 121 puts him in group one class and really he should win this quite readily with the main challenge coming from Red Jazz, who seems to find winning very difficult.

Delegator return to action last month with a good win at Newbury and he is sure to have improved for that outing. Indeed, Frankie Dettori told Racing UK that he gave him a really good feel in recent work on the gallops this week and if he runs to the form he has shown in the past, using his blistering turn of speed, then Delegator should be somewhat of a good thing here. Famous last words you may say, but he does tick all the boxes here.

Delegator can win for us on Saturday

The big race of the day, possibly of the season and in some respects, in juvenile terms, of the century is the Dewhurst Stakes (2:45) which features three unbeaten, and the best, two-year-olds we have seen this season. This really shakes up as a great race and whoever wins here will go into winter quarters as favourite for the 2000 Guineas next year. Though you cannot readily dismiss Saamidd, the amount of Frankie Dettori, I think this boils down to our match between Dream Ahead and Frankel. Regular readers will know that Dream Ahead holds a special place in my affections having landed a couple of group ones in great style. However, only a fool would ignore the vibes emanating from Newmarket about Frankel.

Henry Cecil is possibly the best trainer of all time, a personal view, but without a shadow of a doubt he is one of the all-time greats. He has publicly said that this is the best horse he has trained since Wallow who was his first 2000 Guineas winner. If you do not take that seriously, then my friends I make no apologies for calling you an idiot. I was told that in a competitive gallop at home Frankel went clear by some 25 lengths. Some very serious people are saying that he could be the best two-year-old of all time,

I have never heard such terminology about a horse in my lifetime. I think Dream Ahead is a very good horse indeed, but possibly Frankel is one of those that comes along so infrequently that you have to call him exceptional. He looks the real deal and has done absolutely nothing wrong so far, safe Saturday is his big test but I can tell you right now he is fully expected to pass it with flying colours. I would advise taking the price in the morning because the weight of money expected for Frankel will be huge, but in all reality he will probably be too short for many to get involved with. I think we are safe with our forecast of Frankel to beat Dream Ahead. I would strongly advise taking the price now about Frankel for the 2000 Guineas as he is very likely to be odds-on after tomorrow.

If that wasn’t good enough straight after we have the Champion Stakes (3:00) which is another fascinating group one contest. Henry Cecil runs last year’s winner Twice Over again but I think this can go to the boys in blue with Poet’s Voice who has improved out of hand this season and showed genuine class when beating Ripe Van Winkle under a scintillating Frankie Dettori ride in the Queen Elizabeth at Ascot last time out. I strongly fancy him to win again. There is no better jockey to judge the pace in a race than Frankie Dettori and as a backer I see him as a big reason for backing Poet’s Place..

Twice Over goes in these colours

Well, what a superb opening to the card, but it does not stop there, The Totesport Cesarewitch (3:40) is the next on the card. This is in truth a bit of a lottery although I have to say that if money talks then Universal Truth, trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld, is the one to be on. There has been a sustained anti-post gamble on this fella, but I prefer Red Cadeaux, who offers better value and is a rock solid each way bet, widely available at 10 – 1.  Ed Dunlop’s gelding comes here on the back of a very decent course and distance trial which had many of today’s opposition well beaten behind. The blinkers could hold the key to his chances and one cannot ignore the fact that Johnny Murtagh rides him again, no doubt having had opportunities to ride several others. My advice would be to take the price in the morning.

What a great day of racing at Newmarket as the 2010 flat season draws to a close. Cheltenham stage is a very good day racing which really marks the start of the National Hunt season and the buildup to the 2011 Cheltenham Festival which is just the best week of the year and my best bet of the day at Cheltenham is Barizan (3:15) although I have to be perfectly honest about it, I will be focusing on the flat.at least for today!

Good look, Carl.