Tanya Stevenson's Racing UK Blog
	Friday 26th September 2014

Tullius can spark of Chain Of Events

I could not believe the sudden appearance of the snowflake insignia on the dashboard this morning. The temperature was a lowly 3C at 6.45am! 

It has resulted in me sat at home riddled with cold, coughing and spluttering. I did well to pick this as a week off - Champions League T20, Ryder Cup and the NFL is at Wembley. 

At Newmarket the key race on Friday is the Shadwell Farm Handicap Silver Cambridgeshire at 5.00pm. Hopefully it will give us the much-needed guide into how events might unfold at 3.50 on Saturday in the real thing. 

I like the look of the Michael Wigham and Ryan Moore combination with Chain Of Events, especially as the trainer won the big one with Credit Swap in 2010. 

He may be a Sandown specialist, but I like the fact he stays ten furlongs, is improving all the time and has the assistance of Moore in the saddle. 

Earlier on the card Tullius could earn a deserved success in the Shadwell Joel Stakes. Jimmy Fortune has ridden him eight times, resulting in five victories and two thirds. 

He has had a rest since having a tough campaign in the top echelon earlier in the season. And his defeat by two lengths to Olympic Glory in the Lockinge Stakes and Toronado in the Queen Anne Stakes reads very well. 

I’ll be up at silly o’clock for the Ryder Cup on Friday.

Reminiscing I was actually at The Belfry for the 1993 Ryder Cup when Tom Watson was captain and all I remember was the very little that could be seen due to the size of the galleries. 

Despite that I returned in 2002 when Lanny Wadkins was America’s captain. 

I backed David Toms to beat Sergia Garcia. My emotions couldn’t be held in when Garcia’s ball went in the water at 18.

Frowns and raised eyebrows from the crowd were the least of my worries, as I scurried off into the refreshment village.  Unknown to all those tutting was the small matter of me wanting Europe to win as long as Toms did the business. 

Since then I’ve chosen to sit at home and heckle, cheer, shout and curse at the television at various times and I’m sure the same will unravel this time around. 

Jordan Speith & Jimmy Walker have attracted a small interest from me to score a fair collection of points and I’ve also weighed into the Tie. 

Buoyed by the fact that Spieth is paired by Patrick Reed - the latter is more fiery than a Scotch Bonnet chilli, and he doesn’t lack confidence either.  

Rickie Fowler’s flare is well matched to Jimmy Walker’s nature. He is an introvert with a wicked sense of humour, he holds on to reality and has the maturity of his captain Tom Watson. 

The countdown to Wembley ticks faintly in the background as I know I’ll be very emotionally engaged come Sunday when the Miami Dolphins welcome the Oakland Raiders on the pitch. 

They’ve yet to win this season, and there was a train of thought from this quarter that after game two they should have just flown straight to Heathrow bypassing their encounter with the New England Patriots. 

You can imagine my joy when accosted in the gym on Thursday morning by a racing fan who also conveyed his love for NFL and the Patriots.  I think I hid the grimace well enough. 

Tanya Stevenson’s Friday’s tips:

3.15 Newmarket: Tullius at 11-2

5.00 Newmarket: Chain Of Events at 20-1 each-way.

Tanya Stevenson’s Pointers:

2.10 Newmarket - Princess Royal EBF Sakhee Stakes:

Five of the last ten favourites have won.

Barry Hills will be attempting a record-breaking fifth win in the Rockfel Stakes with Fadhayyil.

2.40 Newmarket - Shadwell Rockfel Stakes:

Seven of the last ten winners of the Rockfel had won over at least seven furlongs.

Seven of the last ten winners of the Rockfel had run at least at Group Three level. 

Since 1988 four fillies have completed the Rockfel/1000 Guineas double Musical Bliss 1988, Lahan 1999, Speciosa 2005 & Finsceal Beo 2006.

3.15 Newmarket - Shadwell Joel Stakes:

Since its inception in 1987 Penitent is the only horse older than five to win the Joel Stakes.

Seven of the last eight winners of the Joel Stakes have come from the first two in the betting.

Penitent has raced ten times in September winning five.

Only two of the last ten winners of the Joel Stakes had won on their most recent run 2009 Confront & 2010 Cityscape.

Seven of the last ten winners of the Joel Stakes had won at least at Group Three level previously.

Of the last ten winners only Soft Falling Rain had run in Dubai earlier in the season.

The last eight winners of the Joel Stakes had won over at least a mile

3.45 Newmarket - Mawatheeq Godolphin Stakes:

The seven winners came from the first two in the betting.

Nine of the last ten winners had won over at least ten furlongs (six had won over 12 furlongs).

Harris Tweed has never finished out the first three in September.