Musical Times makes a deep impression at Doncaster

Newmarket World Pool tips: Cunningham's Fillies' Mile preview

Horse Racing

Thu October 08, 2026 · 1d ago

Graham Cunningham guides us through the World Pool card at Newmarket on Friday including the Fillies' Mile.

Stars set to align as World Pool returns to HQ

Musical Times is a short price to remain unbeaten this Friday

Just three meetings left on the British swing of the 2026 World Pool tour and the first of them takes place at Newmarket on Friday.

An eight-race card gives punters plenty to choose from, including three big races for two-year-olds, and runaway May Hill winner MUSICAL TIMES should be the star of the show when she bids to enhance her 2027 Classic credentials in the Fillies’ Mile at 14.57.

But banking on 1.5 chances won’t get too many World Pool pulses racing and it could pay to nose on four races for the older horses, starting with the Challenge Stakes at 14.25.

Flora of Bermuda heads the early markets after continuing her rewarding season with a solid G2 success at Doncaster, while the overnight lists suggest the lightly raced Time To Turn is ready to improve after a summer break.

But this could prove more open than the market suggests.

PINA SONATA quickened smartly to beat a big field of useful fillies in style in the G3 Sceptre stakes at Donny. That career best effort makes her well worth a second look in this higher grade, while WITNESS STAND is fresh from a solid second at Redcar last Saturday and looks worth a saver in the hope that he snags an easy lead here.

An open market looks assured for the Old Rowley Handicap at 15.30, but the key clue probably came at Ascot five weeks ago.

TURTY TREE came out best in a bunched finish that day, squeezing through to win narrowly, but ARCHERS BAY ran a belter in third and has progressed again since. That pair look the two to focus on again before the focus switches to a couple of intriguing contests restricted to fillies.

Andrew Balding

The Prettiest Star and Forty Years on come out well on the ratings for the Boadicea Stakes at 16.10, but DANCE IN THE STARS isn’t far behind them on 98 and she gets the vote as Andrew Balding continues to chase a first trainers’ title.

This strong travelling filly has caught the eye several times this season, especially when bolting up from a mark of 95 at Chester in August, and she appeals as the sort to relish the return to a sound surface after running well in defeat under much softer conditions in big handicaps at York and Ayr on her last two starts.

And then we move on to a Pride Stakes at 16.45 that features two fillies who have finished second in G1 company.

Touleen and Legacy Link finished in the silver medal spot in the Coronation Stakes and the Oaks respectively, but the former has stamina to prove at a mile and a quarter, and the latter is tough to assess after running a stinker in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Noche Clasica looks capable of runnning well at a big price if back to her best, but SILVER LAKE looks the sensible call.

William Haggas’s filly has powered her way through the handicaps, winning four from marks of 75, 77, 86 and 92.

She recorded a career best when bounding clear over a mile and a half at Doncaster last time, but a good gallop looks on the cards here and her generous attitude is another plus as she steps up to G3 level for the first time.