On the eve of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, we bring our insight and best bets from Paris Longchamp, as well as from Ascot, Newmarket, Redcar, Chester, Gowran Park and Churchill Downs.
A fantastic weekend’s racing is promised internationally, as of course the action on Arc weekend kicks off and Paris welcomes stars including champion stayer Stradivarius, as well as last year’s Prix du Cadran winner, Princess Zoe.
Ascot’s card is full of quality including two Class 1 Listed and two Group 3 races.
Put The Kettle On reappears for Henry de Bromhead at Gowran Park in Ireland, whilst across the pond Knicks Go runs at Churchill Downs in the USA ahead of his Breeders’ Cup Classic bid.
It’s certainly a weekend to savour for horse racing fans.
We kick-off this Saturday’s preview at Longchamp in the 1:33 (BST) Group 3 race, where The Revenant heads the market.
The current going is described as soft, which will suit the favourite, having won well in soft and heavy last season.
He comes into this race in form which leaves much to be desired, however he has been running on good ground and should bounce back to his old form here.
Real World will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, rather than his usual rider Marco Ghiani, and has won three consecutive races since June in good company.
The ground may be a concern for the Godolphin colt.
Victor Ludorum is another Godolphin runner, and is likely to prefer conditions, whilst Century Dream and Stormy Atlantic both make the trip to Paris and could have each-way claims.
The 2:15 Prix du Cadran promises to be a fantastic renewal.
The market is headed by mud-lover Trueshan for Alan King.
James Doyle takes the ride as Hollie Doyle misses out due to suspension.
Trueshan will enjoy conditions in Paris, and goes into the race on the back of a Goodwood Cup win, a race that Stradivarius missed due to the ground.
Princess Zoe is back to retain her crown, and is another that will enjoy conditions and is a gutsy mare.
Stradivarius however, would prefer the ground to be a little firmer.
He is the class of the race, and the horse to beat if Trueshan and Princess Zoe want to be considered the best of the stayers.
John & Thady Gosden’s seven-year-old is bidding for a hat-trick having returned to the winner’s enclosure at York, and again at Doncaster following a disappointing Ascot Gold Cup run, in which he was kept too far back by his jockey.
Call The Wind is one-to-watch for the home crowd, whilst Skazino has been very consistent this season.
Emperor Of The Sun and Stratum both travel over from Ireland, for Donnacha O’Brien and Willie Mullins respectively, but they both have a bit to find with the favourites.
Current favourite for the 2:50 Prix de Royalieu over 1m6f is Valia, who will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon for the Aga Khan and trainer Alain de Royer-Dupré.
She will enjoy the softer ground, and is a consistent performer, failing to finish outside the top three only once in her nine-race career to date.
The Sea The Stars filly is surely the one to beat.
Joie De Soir is second favourite for André Fabre, and she finished second to Arc hopeful Raabihah last time out at Deauville.
Loving Dream travels to Paris for John & Thady Gosden, as Frankie Dettori takes the ride.
She has raced once on soft ground, in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield, finishing fifth.
Roger Varian’s Believe In Love and Aidan O’Brien’s Passion, both have each-way claims if at their best.
Noble Music is a course and distance winner at a big price. If she can improve in this Group 1 company she could be in contention for the minor honours.
In the Group 2 Prix Dollar at 4:00, Godolphin’s Magny Cours heads the market for Fabre, whilst Megallan is second favourite.
Magny Cours has form on soft ground, winning last time out at Clairefontaine whilst Megallan would likely prefer a sounder surface.
Dubai Honour for William Haggas’ is an interesting prospect, and will be bidding for a hat-trick having won at Newmarket and at Deauville most recently.
Cadillac for Jessica Harrington and Patrick Sarsfield for Joseph O’Brien are Irish raiders, whilst Third Realm will also line-up for Varian.
Our best bets from Longchamp:
2:15 – 7. Stradivarius 3/1
2:50 – 2. Noble Music 33/1 (EW – 4 places)
4:00 – 5. Dubai Honour 5/1
At Ascot, we highlight some consistent types who could go well again.
In the 1:30, John Quinn’s Highfield Princess has been a consistent selection all season, running well in all of her races, and expected to do so again.
Bounce The Blues is back from a break, and will look to bounce back following a disappointing eighth at Glorious Goodwood.
Rising Star is another consistent type stepping up in class, whilst 100/1 shot Undertheboardwalk impressed on debut before finishing last on reappearance.
In the 2:05, Hurricane Ivor is difficult to go against but Tis Marvellous is sure to make it a race.
Dakota Gold has had an inconsistent season, after a fantastic second-half of his 2020 campaign.
Minzaal reappears after a year’s absence and drops back in trip, whilst Significantly is capable of a win here, having beaten Hurricane Ivor over course and distance in July.
Hukum lines up in the 2:40 Cumberland Lodge Stakes, and has enjoyed a good season.
Quickthorn impressed at Royal Ascot and could go well whilst Alounak is capable of competing.
At 3:15, Glen Shiel heads the market but has been disappointing of late.
He enjoyed a win here last October on Champions, and will prefer the ground a little softer.
Great Ambassador ran well to finish second in the Ayr Gold Cup, and has strong claims in this contest.
Bielsa, Ayr Gold Cup winner, has been relatively inconsistent this term but isn’t one to rule out.
At a bigger price, old-favourite Summerghand is capable at his best, but may not enjoy the give in the ground.
Our best bets from Ascot:
1:30 – 1. Highfield Princess 11/4 (NAP)
2:05 – 1. Hurricane Ivor 11/4
3:15 – 3. Bielsa 7/1 (EW)
An exciting renewal of the Sun Chariot Stakes is the highlight of the card at Newmarket at 2:55.
Snow Lantern heads the market for Richard Hannon, ahead of Aidan O’Brien’s Mother Earth.
Snow Lantern, daughter of Frankel, has been fantastic for connections, finishing consistently in the top three until finishing fourth in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp last month.
She is sure to go well again.
1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth was extremely unlucky last time out at Leopardstown, having been denied a clear run, and will likely be there or thereabouts.
Saffron Beach got back to winning ways at Sandown, but is against better opposition here.
No Speak Alexander beat Mother Earth controversially on Irish Champions weekend and makes her British debut.
At a bigger price Tahlie has been a regular in the winner’s enclosure in France and makes her debut for the Varian stable.
Just Beautiful has each-way claims for Ivan Furtado, and Johnny Murtagh sends Champers Elysees over to Newmarket in an attempt to get back to winning ways.
In the 3:35 Listed race at Redcar, Vintage Clarets and Chipotle lead the betting, both looking for success again, having had some disappointing runs.
Symphony Perfect has been performing respectively in big fields, and could be the one to beat at a decent price of 7/1.If able to bounce back from a poor run last time out, Roman Dragon could have each-way claims.
In a Class 3 race at Chester (2:30), Major Jumbo drops back in trip looking for his first win since winning here in 2019.
He finished second behind Gabrial The Devil last time out, and looks to reverse form.
There are four course and distance winners in the field, and the draw could prove to be important.
Soul Seeker has the outside stall as the outsider of the field, and needs to return to his early season form to compete.
Lihou has been unlucky on numerous occasions this season, and will be aiming for his first win since January.
Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead both run two horses in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park (3:20).
Royal Rendezvous heads the market for Mullins, ridden by Danny Mullins, and is coming to the race having won his last two races.
Easy Game finished second to the favourite last time out in the Galway Plate, whilst Put The Kettle On returns following a fourth-placed finish at Sandown that followed her Champion Chase success at the Cheltenham Festival.
The outsider Abbey Magic has a good record over fences, and has placed regularly during summer races, but has a bit to find with stablemate Put The Kettle on and the Mullins pair.
Turning our attention to North America, Knicks Go is a strong favourite in the Classic Stakes on dirt at Churchill Downs.
He runs for the first time since August, and is always exciting to watch.
He’s set for a tough test in the Breeders’ Cup Classic next month, against Essential Quality, and possibly other rivals including Hot Rod Charlie and Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, who is under investigation following his Derby win.
Knicks Go is against five rivals in this race, including Juddmonte’s Tacitus, who was behind Knicks Go and winner Mishriff in the Saudi Cup.
We expect Knicks Go to perform well ahead of his Del Mar destiny.
KM
THE CONDITIONAL 