Ascot Handicap Preview

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I assess the draw for Sunday’s Arc. Plus, I preview a decent Class 2 sprint handicap at Ascot on Friday.

Arc Draw Takeaways

The draw for Sunday’s Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is out, and here’s a quick breakdown:

• Mqse De Sevigne drew stall 16, a tricky spot. While she’s a hold-up horse and was always going to be dropped in, the wide draw could mean traffic problems.
• Connections of leading contenders Look De Vega (stall 8) and Sosie (stall 5) will be happy with their positions, giving them a good chance to settle early.
• If you're fancy Bluestocking or Aventure, you’ll be pleased with their inside draws in stalls 3 and 4 respectively.
• Fantastic Moon (stall 2) has an intriguing draw, but his jockey must get a fast break to avoid being trapped behind rivals.
• Expect Delius to be ridden prominently from stall 7. Meanwhile, Al Riffa (9), Los Angeles (10), and Shin Emperor (11) have fair draws but may find themselves covering extra ground if they don't secure a good early position.

Friday Racing

Arc weekend starts with a solid card at Ascot on Friday, headlined by the Listed Noel Murless Stakes (3:57), offering £56,710 to the winner. Despite the generous prize fund, only five runners are set to line up.

Later on, Dundalk hosts some exciting 2-year-old Listed action, including the Legacy Stakes (6:15) and Star Appeal Stakes (7:15). One of the top fancies for the Legacy Stakes is Richard Hughes' recent easy Lingfield winner, Sayidah Dariyan, who should be a strong contender.

Enjoy the start of what promises to be a thrilling weekend of racing!

Ascot – 4:30 BetMGM Handicap (Class 2) – 6f Preview

Here's Friday's race under the microscope.

• Rohaan: A five-time C&D winner, including last year's race, he’s well-treated off 8lb lower than his winning mark then. Although out of form for most of the season, his 3rd place finish over C&D two starts back shows he still has it. Needs a strong pace, but if he gets it, he’s a big contender at the weights.
• Baradar: A course winner over 7f, he hinted at a return to form with a 4th at Ripon (6f) last week. Best on soft/heavy ground, the 6f trip is on the sharp side. However, if the ground remains soft, he’s in the mix.
• Holkham Bay: Impressive over 5f here three runs ago and returned to form when 7th in the Portland Handicap. Prefers drying ground but with Oisin Murphy booked, he’s an interesting contender.
• Ferrous: Looked much improved on the all-weather earlier in the year and has run better than his recent turf form figures suggest. The booking of Tom Marquand is a big positive, making him a live contender.
• Garfield Shadow: In good form over 7f recently and still lightly raced with just 8 career starts. Soft ground is an unknown, but he’s interesting dropped to 6f.
• Wobwobwob: On a handy mark and enjoys easy ground. This race may be tougher than ideal, but he’s not without a chance given his weight drop.

Good luck with your Friday bets.

John