Evening all.

The start of a new month and what a cracker of weekend. The highlight of the Newmarket card is the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (2.42)

Meanwhile across the Channel it’s the start of Arc weekend with two Group 1s at Longchamp – the 1m6f Prix du Royallieu and the Prix du Cadran over 2m4f. The latter race sees Kyprios take on Quickthorn.

There is Group 3 action from Ascot with the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2.25) and the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (3.00).

Redcar also hosts it most valuable card of the season with the highlight being the William Hill Two Year Old Trophy (3.21) which has £85,065 on offer to the winner.

It gets even better quality wise at Longchamp on Sunday.  Besides the Arc there are another five Group 1’s on the card. As I mentioned earlier in the week Arc Day is arguably the best day’s racing in Europe. ITV are covering four races live from Longchamp on Sunday.  I have a few fancies at Longchamp this weekend and one of them runs today. More on that at the end of the main piece.

Saturday Racing

I previewed the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Challenge Cup (Heritage Handicap) (3:36) in Thursday’s column so I won’t cover old ground again here. All I will add is that my fancies in the race have stood their ground and I think it will pay to focus on horses at the front end of the betting.

Ascot

The weather will have major impact on my betting on Saturday. If the rain arrives at Ascot on Friday and turns the going soft, then I really fancy Ainsdale in the Listed Rous Stakes (1:51). I have been waiting for soft ground or worse for the 5-year-old. Fingers crossed he gets it. If the ground doesn’t ease significantly then we could see a first win for the new King with King’s Lynn.

The Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2:25) looks likely to fall into the hands of Hamish. A reproduction of his ¾ length 2^nd of 11 to Kyprios in the Irish St Leger would be good enough to win even dropped back to 1m 4f. That said he’s not certain to back it up so quickly. His biggest rival could be recent easy Listed Windsor winner Cresta.

Vadream won last year’s Group 3 Bengough Stakes, yet she can be backed at 16/1 for this year’s race. She was back to something like her best at Newmarket two starts back but ran poorly in the Ayr Gold Cup last time.  I think we’ll see better from her back at this venue with rain softened ground ideal for her.

Commanche Falls ran a cracker under a top weight when runner-up in the Ayr Gold Cup.  He deserves his place in Group company for the first time and is more reliable than Vadream.

Rohaan is back over a C&D that has seen him produce his two best performances. Third of 12 to Minzaal in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock last time the Wokingham winner should get the strong pace he needs albeit most of it seems to be among those drawn high.  

Newmarket

As at Newmarket the weather will have an impact on today’s card. The first three races are live on ITV. The card gets underway with a tricky fillies’ only handicap (1:31) run over 1m 2f.  It could pay to concentrate on the improving 3-year-olds.

Al Husn won here over a mile last time and she comes into the race fresher than most. The step up to 1m 2f should suit here on pedigree.  

Another potential improver is Crystal Estrella hasn’t been seen since winning a Goodwood novice in May. It was soft ground at Goodwood and she’s likely been waiting for easier ground.

I’ll Be There bids for the hat trick after wins at Goodwood and soft ground at Sandown last month. Open to more improvement and although she’s not certain to stay today’s extra two furlongs her dam did win over 1m 3f.

The £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes (2:06) has attracted a field of 29 juveniles. Amichi heads the early betting after wins at Kempton and on the July Course. He looks ton have a good draw in stall 15 and he’s capable of better.  Just behind in the betting is Skysail. He looks the sort to do well as a 3-year-old but there was plenty to like about colt’s recent Newbury win. Of those at bigger odds Prairie Falcon appeals.  He’s more exposed than the other two but he’s inform and is getting better with racing. Dropped back to 6f he won a Ayr nursery 15-days ago despite being slowly away. The forecast strong pace will suit, William Buick has been booked for the ride and he’s an each-way contender.

Sun Chariot Stakes

The big four Saffron Beach, Homeless Songs, Laurel and Prosperous Voyage all run the Sun Chariot Stakes. Although Saffron Beach is the ante post favourite, but I think she might prove weak in the betting and find Homeless Songs challenging her for favouritism at the off. Laurel is the most intriguing of the nine runners. She unbeaten on her two starts and was supplemented for the race early in the week. Looks in the ‘could be anything’ category. Prosperous Voyage tends to be underestimated in these races. She looks a definite for the places and looks the ideal 20 win/80 place bet.

Redcar

Given the amount of prize money on offer I would have expected more than 17 runners for the William Hill Two Year Old Trophy (3:21). Then you realise there’s an equally valuable juvenile sales race at Newmarket.  I think this year’s renewal could turn out to be a good one.  

Cold Case won a big sales at race at the St Leger Festival last time. Trainer Karl Burke thinks the colt could be a Group horse and he’s a worthy enough favourite.

Barefoot Angel a winner at Carlisle two starts back, looked much improved when winning the Group 3 Firth of Clyde Stakes at Ayr 14-days ago. Another big run should be forthcoming from the filly although soft ground would be an unknown.

Washington Heights finished a head 2^nd of 19 in a big sales race at York last time. He’s steadily progressive and will be up with the pace from stall 7. Probably needs another career best to win and is another unproven on soft ground.

Funny Story a winner on racecourse debut bounce back from a lesser run at Newbury to win at Chelmsford 23-days ago. Her trainer Ralph Beckett has his horses in great from and he won this in 2020 with a filly.

Jumbeau isn’t ideally berthed out on wing in stall 17 but is respected on her 3 length 5th of 24 to Little Big Bear in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. A 108-day break shouldn’t be an issue as she won on her racecourse debut. First start at 6f but should stay.

Longchamp

4:35 – Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2) – 1m

The Revenant won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day in 2020 and finished a 2 ½ length 4^th of 10 to Baaeed in last year’s race. He was beaten a short neck in this race 12 month ago and it’s a race he won in 2019 & 2020. Took advantage of soft ground to win twice at Saint-Cloud in the spring and returned from a 155-day break with a respectable effort when a 6 ¼ length 3^rd of 9 to Dreamloper in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp last month. The rain didn’t arrive for him that day and he’s much better horse on soft ground. The 7-year-old should be spot on fitness wise and with ground conditions in his favour he can beat likely favourite Erevann. He’s my idea of one of the best selections of the weekend.

Saturday Selections:

Saturday Selections:

I have got a couple for you today.

Longchamp

4:35 – The Revenant – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Newmarket

1:31 – I’ll Be There – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Saturday bets.

John