Newmarket – Friday 9th October

For those South-West Londoners who watched the belated Vitality Blast T20 Final at Edgbaston on Sunday evening, you should counter your sorrows by backing Surrey Pride in this Friday’s 4.10, the Bet365 Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket – in the hope that Joseph Tuite’s progressive three-year-old can go one better than your cricket team did.

As equally impressive as eventual winners Nottinghamshire throughout the competition, Surrey found themselves outgunned in the final strides of their Vitality Blast T20 campaign. Comments I’m fairly sure won’t apply to Surrey Pride at flat racing’s HQ on Friday. Currently on offer at 12/1 with sponsors Bet365, Paddy Power and also Skybet, he is a very sound each-way bet.

Betting Tips – Newmarket Old Rowley Cup

Having stepped forward markedly on his racecourse debut effort to win his second start as a two-year-old over 1m at Bath, hopes were high that he could prove a profitable horse to follow as a three-year-old. Joseph Tuite’s patience has certainly been rewarded thus far, as he has brought Surrey Pride along slowly this season, having had just the four starts to date.

Each one has been a progression on the previous run, and indeed that improvement has been borne out by two very cosy handicap victories over 1m2f at Newbury and Chester – two tracks that wouldn’t have suited the way he was ridden on each occasion. Held up in the rear of mid-division for both wins, he made scything progress through two competitive fields almost as soon as his pilot pushed the button. The manner of both victories couldn’t have been more impressive, and screamed to me that there is so much more left under the bonnet.

Stepped up to 1m4f for the first time on Friday, I strongly believe that we will see another career best from Surrey Pride. The times of his previous races suggest that he wouldn’t need to improve much for the extra distance to be competitive,  and given the clear prospect that he is open to improve for it, it makes him a strong fancy to run extremely well.

Being a son of Lope De Vega (who won a French Derby), Surrey Pride has already displayed the combined attributes of natural pace and staying power that characterise Lope De Vega’s progeny – and when you ally that to his dam winning over an extended 1m 4f and also boasting a third place in a Group 3 over that trip – it all points to an almost assured notion that Surrey Pride will be better over this distance.

Of course, this race is fiendishly competitive each year, and this renewal will be no different, but there is just something very likable about Surrey Pride, and I’m fairly sure that he has been chalked up at 12/1 on account of being trained by someone slightly under the radar.

In addition, among the entries for Friday’s race are no fewer than 7 horses also hold additional entries on Friday – mostly in a valuable race at York (indeed Cepheus, Favorite Moon and Prince Alex are all engaged there and currently sit ahead of Surrey Pride in the market for the Old Rowley Cup.) While two other horses who are entered are due to run at Leicester on Tuesday.

It is not inconceivable that given all of these factors, Surrey Pride could go off close to favouritism on Friday – he certainly should in my eyes.