Newmarket Preview: Valley Of Fire hot stuff in Tattersall Stakes

The lightly-raced and unexposed Valley Of Fire can improve again to land the Group 3 Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket today (3.40).

The William Haggas trained colt looked a useful prospect when getting up in the shadows of the post to beat Fingal’s Cave by nose on debut at York, and confirmed that impression whena cracking third to Mubtaghaa in a valuable sales race at that venue when last seen in action.

Valley Of Fire didn’t getting the clearest of runs in the 19-runner contest but stayed on strongly to be beaten 2 3/4 lengths.

The son of Firebreak was gaining all the way to the line and finished with plenty of running left in him.

Granted a clear passage he would have gone very close to landing the spoils, and although Valley Of Fire now meets the winner on the same terms he is the more progressive of the pair and should have plenty more to offer after just two starts.

The step up to 7f should also suit given the way Valley Of Fire finished off at York, and with the in-form Andrea Atzeni in the saddle a huge run looks assured.

Almerzem looked a horse to keep onside when bolting up at Kempton seven days ago and can make light of a 6lb penalty to follow-up in the 1m 4f handicap (3.10).

The Saaed Bin Suroor trained three-year-old hinted at ability in maidens before showing much improved form on his first run after being gelded to slam Castle Coombe by three lengths.

The son of Medaglia d’Oro scored with more in hand the winning margin suggests, overcoming a slow start before making smooth headway two from home and taking up the running at the furlong marker to forge clear.

Almerzem has officially been put up 9lb for that runaway success, so it’s no surprise to see connections turn him out quickly under a penalty as he is effectively 3lb “well-in” at the weights.

Pallasator boiled over in the preliminaries when disappointing in the Group 1 Irish St Leger earlier in the month, but his previous form makes him a worthy favourite to land the Jockey Club Rose Bowl (4.15).