Well, one of the biggest weekends in the calendar is upon us as it’s the Saturday before the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Today, we have three Group 1s to look forward to as well as plenty of interesting handicaps, solid Group 2s and open Group 3s.
Looking back on last weekend, the phrase ‘we needed that’ summed up how I felt after the dust had settled.
Why? Well, since the Bestofbets.com column returned on August 13th, the form was sketchy.
But, a profit of 5.6pts across the weekend brought us into profit by 0.35pts from 38pts staked. These aren’t revolutionary numbers, but sitting in profit after a notably bad month is always a good sign.
Anyway, let’s dive in.
1:30 Newmarket – Queen Of Soldiers @ 12/1 with Paddy Power (4 places)
Karmology originally caught my eye when I first looked at Newmarket’s opening race, but it’s hard to ignore Queen Of Soldiers at 12/1.
A mark of 80 looks very lenient for this three-year-old by Sea The Stars considering she finished second to the now 109-rated Group 2 winner Nakheel on debut.
What a smashing finish for NAKHEEL for The Palmer & Co. Champagne Maiden Fillies’ Stakes. Well done to Pat Dobbs, @ARM__Racing and @OwenBurrowsRace. pic.twitter.com/fA2XlU0nOn
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) May 10, 2024
The fourth, Queens Fort, is also rated 95 having won a Lingfield maiden and finished seventh in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes.
She was sent off short prices for her next two races when disappointing, but her handicap debut at Ayr last time out showed she has ability.
Roger Varian has reached for the first-time blinkers which makes sense as she didn’t look the easiest ride on her last start and her racing weight of 8-4 will feel like nothing compared to the 9-2 and 9-9 she’s carried on her last four starts.
She looks well-handicapped and is out of the Listed winner Diamounds Pour Moi, so her pedigree is also solid.
2:05 Newmarket – Twafeeg @ 9/2 with William Hill – 1pt Win
I don’t tend to back horses after a long break, but Twafeeg stands out in the 150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes despite his 106-day absence.
The filly by Far Above impressively beat the subsequent Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge winner Arabian Dusk on debut before going on to finish seventh in the Albany Stakes.
Lovely debut as Twafeeg makes a winning start under Connor Beasley and @Archie_Watson at @DoncasterRaces! pic.twitter.com/82jucH2AJ9
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 1, 2024
Simmering (2nd) has won a Group 2 and placed in a Group 1 since, Heavens Gate (3rd) won a Group 3 on her next start, Mountain Breeze (3rd) chased home Arabian Dusk on her next start in the Duchess Of Cambridge, and California Dreamer (5th) placed in a Group 2 seven days later.
The half-sister to the Group 3 winner Corazon holds an entry for next year’s Irish 1000 Guineas, and while this fact isn’t a tip, it’s nice to know how much they think of her.
2:40 Newmarket – Inspiral @ 7/2 with William Hill – 1pt Win
I’ll admit, I’ve never really warmed to Inspiral from a betting perspective. The combination of short prices and wanting to take her on with different horses has always followed her in my eyes, but today, I’m changing tactics.
Firstly, the ground is likely to be on the slightly softer side of good at Newmarket today. It’s nothing to seriously worry about, but it’s worth noting that Inspiral has won three Group 1s on good to soft.
She won last year’s Sun Chariot on good to firm, but the form looks strong as Mqse De Sevigne, the runner-up, has won four races since, three of them at Group 1 level.
🏆 The John & @thadygosden trained Inspiral shines bright in our feature race the Group 1 @VirginBet Sun Chariot Stakes
🐎 A 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ th win at HQ for @FrankieDettori pic.twitter.com/lalD9l5nfx
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) October 7, 2023
Before that, she beat Big Rock in the Prix Jacques le Marois before he impressively won QEII Stakes on Champions Day, so her form speaks for itself.
Although she has been below par this season, John Gosden admitted she would need her run in the Lockinge and she gave herself some tough tasks in the Prince Of Wales’s and Prix Jacques le Marois due to some back breaks from the stalls.
This race, however, is her easiest task in a long time, and the team at Clarehaven Stables have prepared her well for this contest thanks to some stalls work and a racecourse gallop.
On what is probably her swansong, I think she can ride off into the sun with a victory.
3:20 Redcar – Billboard Star @ 11/4 with William Hill – 1pt Win
Billboard Star has taken a bit of my money this year, but today is the day we finally get paid out.
He is best at the weights by nine pounds and his form is one of a Group horse having chased home Whistlejacket in the July Stakes four starts ago.
He then suffered interference during the Group 2 Richmond Stakes, form that looks good after The Waco Kid (5th) won last week’s Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes, and he had a bad run through the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes on his next start.
Late and FAST 🟥⬛️
𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐳𝐚 flew home late to collar red-hot favourite The Strikin Viking in a thrilling finish to the Group 2 Richmond Stakes.
The pace collapsed!@DylanBrowneMcM | #QatarGoodwoodFestival pic.twitter.com/NHhwRAXUnt
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 1, 2024
Although today’s soft ground should be fine, he did hang a bit on heavy ground on his last start in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes.
Despite veering off to the left (away from the side that produced the 1-2), he ran well and he’s a horse I think plenty of.
4:00 Longchamp – Ottery @ 16/1 with Paddy Power (4 places) – 1pt EW
Avid watchers of the Only Fools Love Horses YouTube channel will know I highlighted Ottery for the Prix de Royallieu on Wednesday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe preview, and my opinion hasn’t changed.
The ground isn’t as soft as I had hoped, but her dam, Longina, won a Group 2 on good and placed in the 2015 German Oaks on good to soft, so she doesn’t need bottomless ground.
Both of her last two runs have suggested more is to come, notably when finishing s staying on third to Double Major in the Prix Maurice de Nieuil.
Double Major keeps finding for @maximeguyon_off, seeing off Shembala from the front to grab the Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil… pic.twitter.com/5CBP9RYsDQ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 13, 2024
The winner has since bolted up in another Group 2 under a penalty and is the closest market rival to Kyprios in today’s Cadran.
Her next start in the Prix de Pomone caught the eye due to interference, but once she switched to the far side rail, she plugged on nicely.
14 furlongs looks like her trip, so she is one to keep onside on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend.
