The Cammidge Trophy has been a good stepping stone for sprinters the past few seasons. Montassib, who lines up once again, started his 2024 season with victory in this before going on to win the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock later in the season, and Invincible Army took this race in 2019 before taking the Group 2, formerly known as The Duke of York Stakes, next time out at York. That isn’t to say there is another Group 1 or 2 performer lurking in here, but it does often attract a good level of horse early in the season.
There should be an honest pace set here with Art Power in the lineup. A habitual front runner, he is likely to be pressed by Myal, who has done most of his racing over seven furlongs, and James’s Delight, who raced prominently when winning an arguably weak Group 2 at the Curragh last season. With the stalls in the centre of the track, Art Power drawn in stall seven, and Myal drawn in nine, I expect them to come down the centre of the course, which will make it difficult for those drawn on either wing.
The first place to start for me is last year’s winner, Spycatcher, who also bookended the season with victory over the same course and distance in the Listed Wentworth Stakes when carrying a 5lb penalty. There is no doubt that he excels over this course and distance, especially when the ground is on the testing side. That is not surprising considering that he has won over seven furlongs, and was once second in the G1 Prix Maurice De Gheest over six and a half furlongs. If the forecast rain did arrive and the ground was described as on the softer side of Good-Soft, then I would consider him the bet in the race. It is also worth pointing out that trainer Karl Burke is operating at a 33% strike-rate at the time of writing this, with 6 winners in March from 18 runners, with a further five of those filling the first four home. At 9/2, he would be a win-only option, but if he drifts out bigger than 5/1 on the day (which looks unlikely), the each-way option would look tempting.
In truth, I wouldn’t be surprised to see several of these involved in the finish, but Montassib holds obvious claims. The race kind of fell apart when he won here in 2024, but he showed it was no fluke and he should get the pace he needs to be seen at his best here. The race should also play out well for Annaf, who is a strong traveller. Winner of the Portland here in 2023, he seems to have been around for an age but is only a seven-year-old and has a recent run under his belt following a luckless run out in Riyadh.
Of the rest, I would want to see something from Jasour before feeling confident enough to back him in any event. He looked as if he was going to mix it at the top level after his win at Ascot first time out as a three-year-old, but things haven’t really worked out since. My Mate Alfie comes into this joint top-rated, and, following being sold for 250,000gns at the Horses-In-Training sale at Tattersalls last October, has been switched from Ger Lyons to David O’Meara. He could potentially take another step forward as a five-year-old, but it isn’t guaranteed with over twenty starts already under his belt. I also want to give a positive mention to Aramram, who never seemed to run a bad race last year. His two seconds behind More Thunder at Newmarket could not look any better after that one hacked up in a Group 2, whilst also not looking out of place at Group 1 level. Aramram then won a nice little race at Newbury before finishing sixth in the Wokingham. I wouldn’t be surprised if he just lost a little of his edge towards the end of the season, but he still managed to win a £20k race at Ascot on his final start. At the ratings, he has a good 10lb to find with these but he is definitely one I will be keeping an eye on.
Recommended Bet:
Spycatcher @ 9/2 (Bet365, William Hill) – 1pt WIN
Good Luck Punting!!
CLT Racing 
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