Morning all,

Sunday’s Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe reminded me of Arc’s from the 1970’s & 1980’s. A big field and a race where you could make a case for most of them. There was no standout horse among the twenty runners. no Baaeed, or Desert Crown. However, most of the top middle distance horses in the world were among the twenty runners.

The breeders may not favour the Arc these days but for me it remains the best race of the flat season and this year's race didn't disappoint.

Inside today’s main piece I look at some of the weekend’s highlights including Sunday’s Arc.  Plus, there’s a Monday selection from Windsor.

Alpinista Conquers Arc Summit

I wasn’t convinced about Alpinista in a big field and very soft ground. Hands up. I was wrong. 

Jockey Luke Morris had the mare in a lovely position behind the front running Titleholder. She was travelling so well 2f out but credit to her jockey he wasn’t tempted to go for home to early. He waited until between the final two furlongs to hit the front and his mount wasn’t for catching.  

Vadeni challenged but he never looked like he would overhaul the mare.  Then it was last year’s winner Torquator Tasso to make his effort but that was ultimately in vain, and he had to settle for third. With a better draw he would have got closer to the winner and might well have won.

I didn’t expect Vadeni to stay on testing ground, but he did. On decent ground he will be tough to beat should connections head to Keenland the Breeders Cup Turk

Looking at the first three home it looks the right result. My sole selection in the race Al Hakeem ran well to finish 4^tt.  Like the winner he was in a good position but just wasn’t good enough. Luxembourg never figured and was reportedly injured during the race.

Take a bow Luke Morris for a cracking ride. Sir Mark Prescott for superb training performance and in his 53^rd year of training he achieved his greatest success. Finally, hat firmly tipped to owner/breeder Kirsten Rausing. Years of careful breeding delivered Europe’s Premier Middle Distance race. Oh and of course Alpinista for being a classy and gutsy mare.

Saturday Review

Saturday’s action this side of the Channel was put in the shade by events at Longchamp.

Newmarket

Despite being very keen Fonteyn caused a shock when winning Saturday’s Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at 16/1. Coming into the dip I thought Laurel would sweep past Fonteyn down the outside but credit to the winner she dug in and asserted close home to win by ¾ length from Laurel. The winner clearly has a big engine and in combination with jockey Neil Callan put it altogether on Saturday,

Laurel on just her third career started lacked the experience of the winner but looks an exciting prospect for next year. Undoubtedly Fonteyn had the advantage of the stands rail but take nothing away from her she was the best filly on the day.

It may be wise to be a bit sceptical of the form though. Both market leaders Saffron Beach and Homeless Songs failed to fire. The first named may well have been feeling the effects of a hard season. I’m not sure what to make of Homeless Songs this was a lifeless run. The only excuse I can give for the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner is that she may best fresh.

The £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes went the way of Amichi who was completing the hat trick. The winner has proved a different horse since being gelded. A 15,500gns yearling purchase he’s now won £135,275 for owner Laurence Bellman after landing a second big sales race. There’s no reason why he can’t do well as a 3-year-old either.

Ascot

Rohaan made it 4-5 over C&D when winning the 6f Group 3 John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes. He needs luck in the run which he hasn’t always had since winning the Wokingham at Royal Meeting.  Weaving his way through the field he ultimately ran out a comfortable winner over Summerghand and Commnache Falls. He's now one of the leading fancies for the British Champions Sprint back here. Mind you the only time he didn’t perform at Ascot was in last year’s race.

Manaccan continues to improve and should do well as a 4-year-old.  Ascot’s stiff 5f clearly suits him and he will surely be one for next season’s King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Ainsdale looked great in the paddock before the race and was well backed during the morning. However, as I feared it wasn’t quite soft enough for the 5-year-old. Still, he ran a cracker to get within a ¾ length of a progressive sprinter. There’s a race to be won with him when he gets genuinely soft or heavy ground.

King’s Lynn got tapped for speed 1f out but ran onto finish 4^th. He ran like he needs 6f and could be lively outsider for the British Champions Sprint as this run was his first sine June.

Redcar

After the Sun Chariot Stakes the most valuable race on Saturday was the Listed William Hill Two Year Old Trophy. The class horse of the race was Cold Case and he was sent off a well backed 11/8 favourite. He won as the market expected and I think he's an above average winner of the race. He should do well as a 3-year-old and could be a Commonwealth Cup contender next season.

The form of the race looks strong. Runner-up Holguin had finished third to the winner at Doncaster last month. The third home Washington Heights runner-up in a big sales race at York’s Ebor Festival keeps progressing and helps to give the form a solid look.

The eyecatcher of the race though was Barefoot Angel. The filly was carrying a 5lb penalty for her recent Group 3 Ayr success. Held up in the rear she seemed to get unbalanced 2f either but still finished her race off strongly to take fourth. Given she managed to get within 4 lengths of the more prominently ridden winner this was a good run from the filly. Not the biggest of horses so it will be interesting to see how much she grows over the winter. If she does make some physical progress, there are more races to be won with her next season.

Monday Racing

Blue Rose Cen was another winner for the columnin Sunday’s Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp. The run will come to an end soon enough so I’m just enjoying it while it lasts.

Windsor

The race of the day is Windsor’s Hippodrome Handicap (3:12). There’s a decent sized field off 11 for this 1m 3 ½ f race. Wahraan is the bookies early bird favourite. However, for me the market leader should be Hamaki. The 3-year-old failed in his hat trick bid when a 4 ½ length 7^th of 13 at Newbury when dropped back to 1m 2f. Some cut in the ground suits him and the return to further is another plus.

The softer the ground the better for Bad Company. A winner on heavy ground at Epsom two starts back. He was a head 2^nd of 7 back at that venue 8-days ago and very much in the mix if the ground eases further.

Surrey Mist is a very interesting contender on his first start for Kevin Philippart De Foy.  The 3-year-old finished a ½ length 2^nd of 12 in the valuable London Gold Cup Handicap in the spring and was a credible 2 ½ length 7^th of 19 in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot. Needs to bounce back from a poor run at Goodwood 68-days ago but there’s a good chance he can. Granted both career wins have come on the all-weather and he's yet to run on easy turf but on pedigree he should be suited by it. If you can get the 15/2 available with Bet365 its worth taking.

Pontefract

I’m likely heading to Pontefract and my idea of the best bet on the card is Cisco Disco in the mile handicap (3:40). The 4-year-old won in the visor when trained in Ireland and he was back in the headgear for the first time since switching to Richard Fahey when a neck 2^nd of 8 at Ayr last month. That was his best run since joining his present yard. Nudged up 2lb since but he shouldn’t be inconvenienced by rain softened ground and can go well if the headgear continues to have the desired effect. At around 15/2 he looks a potential value bet to this particular pundit.

Monday Selection:

Windsor

3:12 – Surrey Mist – 15/2 @ Bet365.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John