As flat racing fans look forward to one of the best meetings of the year at Longchamp, we look at some races taking place on Friday.
Ahead of what promises to be a fantastic couple of days racing internationally, we preview our Friday favourites from Ascot, Newcastle, Gowran Park and Dundalk.
(All prices featured are accurate at time of writing)
We start at Ascot, in the 1:55 Class 3 race.
Bonneval has been performing consistently this season, placing four times in Class 4 & 5 races before winning twice at Newcastle (AW) in Class 3 company.
He is bidding for a hat-trick of wins, and Tom Marquand takes the ride.
Tahitian Prince is one to keep an eye on in the race, with four wins from six outings this season.
He beat Bonneval by a head at Kempton in May.
Tasfeeq is another bidding for a hat-trick but this a tougher test.
Our selection: 6. Tahitian Prince 8/1 – we believe he’ll be too strong for the opposition under Sean Levey.
In the 3:05 Listed race, The Queen’s Chalk Stream has been progressive this season and will be attempting to win for the fourth consecutive time, having won a Group 2 last time out.
He steps up in trip but hasn’t shown any reason why it shouldn’t suit him.
Valley Forge won well in the Melrose at York last month, before finishing third on his last run.
He steps up in class and will need to keep improving.
Scope is a contender who has been running in competitive races, most recently in the St Leger, whilst Mandoob finished second to Yibir last time out, and is having only his fourth run.
Our selection: 6. Valley Forge 25/1 (EW) – Andrew Balding’s yard has been in tremendous form this season, and this colt looks a useful three-year-old, but will need to improve in better company.
In a competitive Class 2 Handicap at 3:40, we see many familiar horses who have been regulars in handicaps this season.
Strike Red has performed well for Richard Fahey so far this term, winning three handicaps.
Mitrosonfire is another who has been a regular in the winner’s enclosure with four wins during his campaign.
Joe Fanning is booked to ride the William Muir & Chris Grassick already gelded three-year-old.
Stylish Performer and Prop Forward are both bidding for a hat-trick whilst Dream Composer can put up a challenge at his best for claimer Laura Pearson.
Ryan Moore rides Liberated Lady who goes at a low weight.
Our selection: 6. Mitrosonfire 12/1 – in a handicap that is tough to predict, we expect Mitrosonfire to bounce back from a disappointing run at Doncaster and get back to winning ways.
In the 4:15 Class 3 Handicap, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s seven-year-old Uber Cool runs in the hands of Robert Tart.
He ran well to finish fourth at Chester last month, giving 15lbs to the winner, but was slightly disappointing last time out in behind this race’s top-weight Future Investment.
Rajinsky did well over 16.5f recently and Pierre-Louis Jamin claims 5lbs.
Caribeno has been disappointing in his last three outings, following a six-race winning streak.
Our selection: 4. Uber Cool 6/1 – the gelding has impressed us since returning to the track after a long lay-off and we expect him to go well once again.
Another Class 3 Handicap comes at 4:50.
Farasi Lane impressed at Sandown last month, before disappointing on following run stepping up in class.
However, he is 2 out of 2 when pairing up with Marquand, and a tongue-tie has been added.
Tinto has been inconsistent over 6f this season and steps back up in trip with a bit to prove.
Frankie Dettori rides top-weight son of Dubawi, Sunray Major, for John & Thady Gosden, who is respected following his runs in novice races.
Able Kane will be ridden by Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy and has been in fantastic form recently, whilst Marshal Dan and Top Secret deserve to be mentioned.
Our selection: 8. Able Kane 7/1 – did well last time out at Doncaster, and is a reliable type at the hands of Murphy who looks to extend his lead at the top of the flat jockey championship standings.
At the evening meeting at Newcastle (AW), we look at the 5:25 Class 5 Handicap.
Before a 324-day absence, Envisaging hadn’t been finishing too far behind in Class 4 handicaps, however he has only won twice in his career.
Bringitonboris has been running consistently enough, and lost by a nose when last running at the track.
Proven over course and distance, lower weight Twisted Dreams has 3lb claimer Andrew Breslin on-board.
Our selection: 6. Bringitonboris 5/2 – this four-year-old looks the best of the bunch.
Turning our attention to one race at Gowran Park, we look at the Listed 3:48 Mares Hurdle.
Hook Up for Willie Mullins has been running well on flat recently and will be ridden by Danny Mullins back over hurdles.
Make My Heart Fly has consistently placed this year and was third last time out in a Ladies Handicap Hurdle at Navan.
Derrinlaur Bill won a bumper on debut last year, in his only racecourse outing and will reappear following a 466-day absence.
Jessica Harrington’s Donthavetime has decent form over two miles, and could have each-way claims.
Say Goodbye has raced three times since May and has finished second twice either side of a comfortable win at Bellewstown in the hands of Rachael Blackmore.
Jordan Gainford rides the five-year-old mare.
Our selection: 10. Say Goodbye 10/1 (EW) – won her maiden very well in July and came a close second last time out. Should run well again for the each-way prizes.
As we look ahead to the evening meeting at Dundalk (AW), we preview the 5:15 5f Listed race.
Jarvis finished a close second to Aidan O’Brien’s HMS Endeavour last time out, whilst Anatoli was a length behind in fourth.
Ladies Church finished third behind Sacred Bridge on her last run, following two wins (a maiden and a listed race) in which she beat Orinoco River twice.
Brostaigh for Joseph O’Brien has placed twice on only two racecourse starts and could run well again if she is able to improve.
Geocentric makes her all-weather debut for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane, and beat Ladies Church to second in a Group 3 in August.
She could possibly be the one to beat.
Loveday has finished in the top three in all of her races to date, and she is again expected to run well.
Our selection: 10. Loveday 6/1 – it’s difficult to choose between 7, 9 and 10 in what should be a competitive race, but we expect Loveday to run well and be in contention.
Another Listed contest comes at 6:45 over 7f, and Absolute Ruler heads the market for Donnacha O’Brien.
Harrington’s filly Corviglia has been running well and faces the colts on this occasion.
Leinster House was impressive on debut at Naas, joining Nero Tulip in a dead-heat success, as was Markaz Paname on debut at Cork.
Snaffles was a five-length winner at Down Royal earlier on in the month, and Shane Crosse takes the ride.
Another Aidan O’Brien runner in the race is The Entertainer, who has been disappointing since winning on debut at Navan in May.
Our selection: 5. Leinster House 6/1 – won well on debut and could improve for major stable.
Tomorrow, we will be previewing the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the weekend’s racing from Longchamp, as well as meetings from Great Britain, Ireland and the USA.
Check back on the website theconditional.com as well as on our Twitter account @TheConditional for updates and new posts.
KM
THE CONDITIONAL 
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