Altareq
Altareq out-ran big odds in finishing third in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on Saturday. A little keen towards the rear of the far-side group early on, he picked up well for Laura Pearson on the run into the Dip on the near side of the far-side group, and he stayed on well all the way to the line. Unusually, the race wasn't strongly-run, the finishing speed of the winner, Pierre Royal, was over 105% of overall speed. Ado McGuinness' horse did well to win from well back in the field, he was fastest of all through each of the last two furlongs, but Altareq was second fastest through each of the last two furlongs, and he was fastest of all through the third last furlong.
This was a career-best performance by Jim Goldie's horse, but he may remain a little under the radar, given that he was sent off at a triple-figure price on the back of a poor run at Ayr, when he was just too keen on soft ground when ridden prominently. He reportedly returned with a wound to his off-hind leg too. While he did lead from early when he won at Ayr in early July, he seems to be happier held up in behind horses and delivered late - he can miss the break - as he was when he was a fast-finishing third in the Carlisle Bell in June. He lost his form after that victory at Ayr in July, but this was much more like it. He probably wouldn't want the ground to get too soft, but he will be of interest if he runs again before the end of the season.
Newmarket, 26th September 2026
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