Cambridge Synthetic Tips & Preview | Wednesday 19 August

Affaire D’Amour (#3) is a locally trained 4yo Almanzor mare coming here at her second start for Ralph Manning. She was a well-backed commodity on debut at Waverley but had some excuses in the run and failed to make an impression, finishing 6th. She should be better for that experience and getting back to her local track should suit – albeit publicly untried on the synthetic. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Rihaan Goyaram ride her positively from the wide gate in a race that doesn’t have an abundance of early pressure. An improved showing wouldn’t surprise. 

Roederer (#5) comes here off a good 2nd at this track and trip last start, where he had to work early to find a handy position but fought on gamely to be beaten a narrow margin. While he was ridden positively last start, I’ve mapped him to settle off what should be a genuine tempo being set out in front, despite being a small field. If he can find some cover early and they overdo things in front, he can be finishing over the top late. Could surprise at odds. 

Pink Gin (#5) is a locally trained 4yo Time Test mare who has relished getting back on to the synthetic at her past two starts. The latest of those was a demolition job, where she settled off a strong tempo before swooping late to round her rivals up with ease. She again maps to get back off a solid tempo from her low draw, which should set up nicely for her to repeat the dose here. Just needs clear running to be taking plenty of beating if she runs up to that latest win. 

Vadasha (#5) is a 21-start maiden coming here second-up off a game effort for 2nd last start, in what was her first raceday appearance since December 2025. She travelled up to win the race turning for home but condition possibly just gave out late as she battled once finding the front halfway down. She should be better for the run and maps to get a similar run back in the field from her wider draw in this smaller field. Can go one better with natural improvement. 

Mulan Ardeche (#3) ran a competitive race for 5th here in the Polytrack Championship at this track and trip last start, where she was poking through closer to the fence without having all too much clear running. She finds herself in a much more winnable assignment here and looks well placed just above the minimum. Michael McNab takes the steer from a middle draw, where he could well have her settling in the 1×1 throughout. In what will only be a moderately run race, she may just have the turn of speed to have their measure late. 

Wing And A Prayer (#3) is a locally trained 4yo son of Niagara heading here at just his sixth start for Ralph Manning. He was well backed at Ruakaka last start but only battled into 4th, beaten a fair margin at the same time. He now gets on to his local track and while yet to be tried here on raceday, he has won a trial here in good fashion and is sure to be well exposed to the surface at home. The wide draw is a slight concern given there doesn’t appear to be much speed engaged, but hoping Masa Hashizume takes luck out of the equation and puts him into the race early. Looks to find a very winnable maiden. 

Subiaco (#9) comes here off a big brave win at this track and trip last start, where he raced three and four wide throughout but proved too good for his rivals. He jumps in grade here but finds himself well placed down in the weights as a consequence. He maps to find the perfect trailing run behind the likely leader Prometheus, which should give him the ideal cart into the race. May just need the gaps to go his way late to be featuring here.