As the final meeting of the racing season at Newmarket Racecourse, the Dubai Future Champions Festival 9th – 10th October 2020 is a special showcase of horses kickstarting their careers and a must for all racing fans. The Wine Tipster’s favourite race, Saturday’s Cesarewitch, is a spectacle to behold, and he especially loves the chance to see the top two-year-olds in The Fillies Mile and The Darley Dewhurst Stakes. The Wine Tipster is looking forward to seeing these top performers return next year in The Classics. Here, The Wine Tipster guides you through this great meeting and how to enjoy it safely.

The Gold Season – The Wine Tipster’s favourite time in the racing calendar – is off to a flying start and should be a great weekend of racing.

Dubai Future Champions Festival Friday – 9th October

As the final festival of the racing season at Newmarket, the first day of the Dubai Future Champions Festival features thrilling racing. The Wine Tipster is excited for a great Friday card with 5 impressive Group Races, and the historic Old Rowley Cup. The Fillies’ Mile is a hugely important race, with the two year olds going on to race in the 1000 Guineas – The Wine Tipster loves following them through their racing careers.

START TIMES	RACE
12.45pm	The Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies’ Stakes Div I – Racing TV
1.15pm	The Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies’ Stakes Div II – Racing TV
1.50pm	The Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes Group 3 – ITV & Racing TV
2.25pm	The Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes Group 3 – ITV & Racing TV
3.00pm	The Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards Challenge Stakes Group 2 – ITV & Racing TV
3.35pm	The Fillies’ Mile Group 1 – ITV & Racing TV
4.10pm	The Old Rowley Cup (Heritage Handicap) – ITV & Racing TV
4.45pm	The Darley Pride Stakes Group 3 – Racing TV

The Wine Tipster is looking forward to seeing how Indigo Girl, Isabella Giles, Shale and Pretty Gorgeous perform in a fascinating Fillies’ Mile, while Luncies looks very interesting in the Old Rowley Cup Handicap.

Dubai Future Champions Day – 10th October

The seven race card hosts three Group races including the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Often used by trainers to kick start a horses career, previous champions include: Frankel, considered the finest race horse of all time, 2000 Guineas winners Dawn Approach and Churchill, and 2018 July Cup winner US Navy Flag.

The Wine Tipster loves the Rowley Mile and especially the top class Cesarewitch which starts in Cambridgeshire and finishes in Suffolk showcasing over 30 horses thundering along the 2 mile 2 furlong course. The other Group races of the day host top class horses, and The Wine Tipster is looking forward to seeing the two year olds in The Darley Dewhurst Stakes before they return for the 2000 Guineas next year.

START TIMES	RACE
1.10pm	The Dubai Nursery Handicap Stakes – Racing TV
1.45pm	The Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes Group 3 – ITV & Racing TV
2.20pm	The Emirates Autumn Stakes Group 3 – ITV & Racing TV
2:55pm	The Darley Dewhurst Stakes Group 1 – ITV & Racing TV
3.35pm	The Together For Racing International Cesarewitch (Heritage Handicap) – ITV & Racing TV
4.15pm	The Dubai British EBF Boadicea Fillies’ Stakes – Racing TV
4.50pm	The Darley Stakes Group 3 – Racing TV

A cracking Saturday of racing and look out for my selections in my Unibet Blog.

Races will be broadcast on ITV and Racing TV which is available on Freeview, YouView, Virgin Media, BT TV, Talk Talk TV, Plusnet TV and Apple TV. Racing Replays are available 20 minutes after winners cross the line so you’ll never miss out on the action.

At Home

The Wine Tipster would normally be presenting with Michelin Star Chef of Midsummer House, Daniel Clifford, at the Champs Gallery Restaurant. Although this won’t be possible this year, it’s a great chance for The Wine Tipster to try making Daniel’s recipes at home! He’s especially excited to try making Cottage Pie with Celeriac Mash and Kale, and a Watercress and Spinach Soup with Poached Hen’s Egg, Smoked Oil and Seeds for Starters. For more Autumnal food inspiration from Midsummer House, find all the recipes here.

For wine pairings with this fantastic Cottage Pie, The Wine Tipster recommends Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Villages 2018, Rhône, France available from Waitrose, or the Rioja ‘Selección Especial’ 2017, Ramón Bilbao, Spain available from Majestic.

For wine pairings with Daniel’s lovely soup dish, The Wine Tipster recommends Macon Charnay Les Chenes Domaine Manciat-Poncet 2017, Burgundy, France – a super white burgundy to enjoy as an aperitif and with the Watercress and Spinach Soup. Or why not try a lovely easy drinking Freixenet Pinot Grigio DOC 2019, Veneto, Italy

At Home – To Do

There are a number of interactive and fun activities to get involved with at home during the Dubai Future Champions Festival. Don’t forget to follow all the Social Media for Newmarket Racecourse and The Wine Tipster to share your celebrations! Use #GoldSeason to stay involved in the action.

• Calling friends and family to enjoy the day with? Why not use a Gold Season Video Background from The Jockey Club and feel as though you’re really there.
• The Raceday App is a must for the At Home experience. Get your own digital racecard, exclusive content, and access to the Raceday 5 Game with a chance to win a bottle of Coates & Seely Rosé NV and £10,000!
• Decorate your home with The Jockey Club Bunting which can be used throughout The Gold Season At Home.
• Need to brush up on your racing knowledge and jargon? Check out Racing Explained for all the confusing terms!
• Colour and fill in your own Sweepstake Sheet for each of the races.
• Put your knowledge of racing to the test with Raceday Quizzes.
• Don’t forget to keep up to date with the fantastic Competitions available.
• Set the scene for the Meeting with your very own Spotify Playlist.
• Get inspiration from others’ At Home Celebration creations here!

To keep up to date with The Wine Tipster’s blog, subscribe here, and don’t forget to follow him on Social Media for updates and coverage.

The popular Shergar Cup day takes place at Ascot today and this year there are four teams battling it out over a six race card starting at 12.55.

Ascot 12.55 Les Ambassadeurs Casino Shergar Cup Mile The main question here is how Nine Realms will perform after a slightly lacklustre first run of the season. The Wine Tipster thinks that Nine Realms has too much to do and his siding with Andrew Balding’s Roserrow, who is certainly progressive.Selection: Roserrow win 8/1.

Ascot 1.30 Redcentric Shergar Cup Stayers 2m Sir Mark Prescott is renowned for the placement of his horses and his Mutual Respect, a winner last time at Ffos Las over this distance, looks open to improvement against some tough opposition including Broxbourne and Brockwell. Selection: Mutual Regard win 5/1.

Ascot 2.05 Barclays Shergar Cup Dash  5f Ahtoug looks well handicapped and his trainer Charlie Appleby’s stable is in good form so with a pull in the weights Ahtoug can reverse the form with joint favourite Steps when they last met on July 28^th at Ascot. Selection: Ahtoug win 9/2.

Ascot 2.40 Keltbray Shergar Cup Classic 1m 4f Chesterfield, despite a six pound penalty after his determined victory over Lady Pimpernel over 1m 2f, looks sure to benefit from the longer trip of 1m 4f and give trainer Charlie Appleby a double, whilst Cathy Gannon’s mount Cardinal Palace looks good for some place money.  Selections: Chesterfield win 11/4 and Cardinal Palace each way 12/1. 

Ascot 3.15  Pagegroup Shergar Cup Challenge 1m 4f Star Lahib will relish the return to 1m 4f and his two wins this season have both been over this trip. Ustura is the main danger and if runs to his Royal meeting form then he is a big threat, although The Wine Tipster still takes Mark Johnston’s Star Lahib to just edge this tight handicap. Selection: Star Lahib win 7/2.

Ascot 3.50 Dubal Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint 6f Trainer William Haggas continues in cracking form and look set for another successful Saturday in televised races with favourite Noble Deed’s three wins all coming at this distance of 6f, this looks the horse to be punting your pounds on.Selection: Noble Deed win  5/2

Channel 4’s is also featuring these races with my The Wine Tipster’s tips:

2.20 Haydock: Educate 9/1 each way.

2.55 Haydock: Telescope 4/5 win.

3.35 Newmarket: Wedding Ring  7/2 win. 

To celebrate a successful afternoon The Wine Tipster suggests some wonderful fizz from Champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaïque NV, £25, Great Western Wines or Laurent-Perrier’s delicious and expressive Laurent-Perrier Millésime 2004,Champagne, France £43.99. Stockists: Sainsbury’s, Oddbins

Cheers!

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