Nothing says the new Flat season on the turf is moving up as gear than our first Newmarket meeting of 2026, the headquarters of horse racing here in the UK, and the home of not one but two racecourses.
As mentioned on a daily basis it’s a tricky time of year with horses either debuting or having their first run of the new season and fitness at a premium, and the opening maiden at 1.15pm is a one example.
Named after trainer Alex Scott who passed away in 1994, it has always attracted some decent sorts over the seven furlongs, and this year they include Newbury third Galba and the race fit pair of Weld and Powder Monkey, but word in Newmarket has it that Charlie Appleby’s Cerro Blanco is burning up the gallops.
An unraced homebred son of Wootton Bassett unsurprisingly owned by Godolphin, there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree suggesting this trip may prove his minimum in the long term, but he has been working well with previous winners recently and a winning debut is on the cards.
Daily Sport Recommended Bet 1pt Win Cerro Blanco 1.15pm Newmarket 4/6 most bookmakers