Newmarket Tips: Ross Millar backs trio for Thursday glory

It's the final day of racing at Newmarket's Craven Meeting on Thursday, with the Feilden Stakes the big race. 

Our tipster Ross Millar has picked out three horses to follow.

1.50 Novice Stakes 5f

Cheeky Maxi is the only one here with any previous confidence, and there is every chance he is capable of far better than he showed when well beaten at Leicester at the start of the month. He was well supported in the market on that occasion so it’s reasonable to think he ran below expectation. With that experience behind him, he’s a strong contender.

However, I’d chance one of the newcomers in the form of Tajalla. While Roger Varian would not necessarily be known for first-time-out two-year-old winners, the pedigree of this colt appeals. His sire, Kessaar, was a fast and precocious two-year-old himself and was retired to stand at Tally-Ho Stud after just one season of racing, where his highlight was winning the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury. Tajalla’s dam, Armum, is a half-sister to Ardad who himself is a sire getting fast types including Royal Ascot winner Perfect Power. Armum won as a two-year old herself when in the care of Jamie Osborne.

This pedigree strongly suggests that Tajalla is capable of showing up well in this contest and I fancy him to overcome the lack of experience and go very close.

Selection: Tajalla @ 3.5

2.25 Conditions Stakes 7f

While it’s clear that Audience, who has been installed as the early favourite, has potentially more to give, it should be noted that the form of his Newmarket win back in October is yet to be franked, with both the second and fourth-placed horses, Yantarni and Mount Kosciuszk, failing to improve in subsequent runs.

Eldrickjones, meanwhile, is a horse I feel we are still yet to see the best of. He had a busy season as a two-year-old, running 10 times, and despite only managing a solitary win he showed some good form in defeat notably when second to Berkshire Shadow in the Coventry at Royal Ascot and also when a luckless fifth in the July Stakes. He was finishing races strongly over six furlongs and while two attempts at seven furlongs last year failed to see him at his best, I’m confident it’s a trip that is within his range.

I can see an improved performance coming from Roger Fell’s charge on his return to the track.

Selection: Eldrickjones @ 7.4

3.35 Feilden Stakes (listed) 1m1f

After a highly promising campaign last year, Masekela’s season ended on a bit of a low note when a well-beaten fourth in the Royal Lodge Stakes on his first attempt at a mile. I’m confident that the step up in trip wasn’t to blame, as at no point in the race did he travel with his customary ease and he was beaten well before stamina became an issue.

Prior to that disappointing run, he had been finishing strongly over trips of seven furlongs, most notably when only failing by a short head to overhaul Native Trail in the Superlative Stakes on the July Course at Newmarket. The impression he gave on that occasion, coupled with the stout pedigree of his dam Lady’s Purse, a daughter of Doyen who herself won a group three over 1m4f at Chantilly, convinces me that we will see an improved performance from Masekela as he steps up in trip here and I would be disappointed if he couldn’t progress on from this.

Selection: Masekela @ 2.84

Recommended bets

Tajalla (1:50 Newmarket) @ 3.5
Eldrickjones (2:25 Newmarket) @ 7.4
Masekela (3:35 Newmarket) @ 2.84