Saturday & Sunday Preview

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Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

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Saturday

Welcome aboard to a slightly different preview to normal, as I’ll be taking a look at Saturday and Sunday with it being Arc weekend. I’ll be kicking things off on these shores though on SATURDAY with the 2:25 at Ascot which is the Cumberland Lodge Stakes, a Group 3 contest over a mile and four furlongs. I’m siding with what is one of my ultimate cliff horses here in the form of High Definition at 4/1 for Wayne Lordan and Aidan O’Brien. This is a horse who’s been ultimately frustrating over the years, not living up to the potential that he showed earlier on in his career, however, he has shown glimpses of his ability this year when most notably finishing a neck second to Alenquer in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh back in May. This race presents him with an ease in grade, and if he can find the form of that run back in May he’s got every chance of getting a long-awaited victory.

Moving over to Newmarket now for the 2.42 which is Group 1 action in the form of the Sun Chariot Stakes. A race that’s for Fillies & Mares over a mile and I think this is all about Saffron Beach who currently heads the betting at 6/4 for William Buick and Jane Chapple-Hyam. She won this race last year and has had a fine campaign this time around, winning the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot before following up with Group 1 success over in France when she won the Prix Rothschild, beating a fellow Group 1 winner in Tenebrism in the process. She has the best form on offer in this race, and despite Homeless Songs being a more than worthy rival I think she has what it takes to add another top-level success to her C.V here and retain her crown.

Back to Ascot now for their 3:36 which is the Challenge Cup, a heritage handicap that’s ridden over a distance of seven furlongs. I’m staying loyal to Blue For You here who’s a 10/1 shot for Jason Watson and David O’Meara. He arrives here having had an ultra-consistent season in top-level handicaps, his current form stands at 2221, with his most recent outing being a victory at York’s Ebor Meeting where he got the better of Escobar by a head. He’s been raised six pounds for that success, which might seem a bit harsh given the winning distance, however, he arguably would’ve won by more had he not met trouble in the run. One thing that is becoming quite a common theme with him is that he does seem to find a bit of trouble in his runs, however, he’s a strong traveller who clearly has an engine on him. If he gets some luck here I think he can go well again at a decent price.

I’m staying at Ascot for the 4.10 which is where my next punt comes from, a Listed event over seven furlongs for Fillies & Mares, I’ve sided with Primo Bacio here at 5/2 for Jason Hart and Ed Walker. She’s not found the winners enclosure yet this campaign, however, she’s run with credit in several of the pattern-level races she’s contested this season and this looks one of her less testing assignments to date. She also posted one of her best runs of the year at Ascot at the Royal Meeting when finishing third of seven behind Saffron Beach in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. A repeat of that level of form should see her bang there in this.

Concluding my fancies for Saturday will be the 4.35 at Longchamp which is the Group 2 Daniel Wildenstein which is ridden over a mile. I think that this can go to Triple Time at 5/1 for the team of Kevin Stott and Kevin Ryan. He’s a three-year-old son of Frankel who made an impressive winning return to the track at Haydock when taking out a Group 3 contest in the Superior Mile Stakes. Before that, he’d won a listed event at the same track getting the better of the useful Hafit in the process. This is clearly his toughest test to date, however, I think he’s an extremely promising colt and he’s also proven that he can handle cut in the ground having won at Haydock on a soft surface.

Sunday

Moving onto the SUNDAY action now and I’ll be going straight into the big one at 3:05 at Longchamp which is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe over a mile and four furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Vadeni at 8/1 for Christoph Soumillon and Jean-Claude Rouget who arrives here having already won two Group 1s this season. The latest of top-level victories came in the Eclipse at Sandown back in June, where he showed a very game attitude to get the better of the top-class Mishriff by a neck. He followed up that with a third-placed effort in the Irish Champion Stakes behind Luxembourg, who’s the current favourite here. On that occasion, he didn’t get a clear run yet still ran on strongly at the finish, with more luck here from a low draw I think he could well get closer to that rival on ground which shouldn’t be an issue.

The 3:50 at Longchamp on Sunday is the final race that I’ll be looking at in this extra-large preview, which is the Prix de l’Opera that’s contested over a mile and two furlongs. I think that this can go to Above The Curve at 10/3 for the Irish challenge of Ryan Moore and Joseph O’Brien. After claiming Group 1 honours at Longchamp in May she was given some time off the track before returning with a fine victory in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at Leopardstown. I think that she’s really likeable as well as very smart, and despite this being her toughest test to date there could well be a lot more to come from her, if getting some luck in the run she’s a big player.