Best bets for the horse racing around the globe this weekend

Its a weekend of interest across the globe with fancies here in the UK, over in the Emerald Isle at the Curragh, across the pond at Churchill Downs and out in France.  I have half-a-dozen fancies for the weekend, across four countries.

Best bets for the horse racing at Newmarket

The Listed 1m4f JCB Fred Archer Stakes at 2.50 looks a decent chance for King Of Conquest. Having been tried in Group company a couple of times earlier this year, beaten a nose in the 1m4f G.3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury in May, he was back in the Winners Enclosure at Goodwood last time in the Listed Tapster Stakes, Aimeric second. I think those two are the main contenders here and we should see the same result, I am on at 5-4. Kemari has to be respected with his record here but Buick prefers the King as do I. Charlie Appleby said of his runners chances “King Of Conquest has a penalty for his win at Goodwood but goes into this in great form. Kemari is making his first start for a while and runs well as a fresh horse. He has won and finished second in the last two renewals of this race and should hopefully put up another good performance.”

The Group Three 7f Plantation Stud Criterion Stakes at 3.25 can see Charlie Appleby and William Buick notch a quickfire double as Noble Dynasty looks the one to be on here. The six-year-old proved too good for impressive Buckingham Palace winner English Oak on the Rowley Mile last month over 7f and can finally get some well-deserved black-type here. I have some of the 9-4 this morning. His trainer Charlie Appleby said this week “Noble Dynasty has enjoyed a little break since winning nicely at the Guineas meeting and we know he runs well fresh. The form of his Newmarket win was given a decent boost last week and he should have a live chance at this level.”

Best bets for the horse racing at the Curragh

A few I have talked of before go in the Group One 1m2f Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes across the Irish Sea at the Curragh due off at 3.30. Very impressive winner of the G.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes over 1m2½f at York last month Bluestocking has an obvious chance if in the same mood here. She looks a more solid option than Emily Upjohn to me who is a top-class filly on her day but hasn't looked at her best so far this season; drop back in trip may help. She was second in the G.1 Irish oaks here last year so the course holds no fears and this looks a canny piece of placement by Ralph Beckett, I am on at 15-8. Stay Alert was handed her victory in the G.2 Dahlia Stakes last time by Running Lion hanging left for the last couple of furlongs and will need both of the principals here to be off their game to win. I can't see either of the three-year-olds getting involved despite the weight allowance.

Best bet for the horse racing at Churchill Downs

Ottoman Fleet bids for back-to-back Graded wins at Churchill Downs when he tackles the Grade Two 1m½f Wise Dan Stakes at 8.52pm our time. The Charlie Appleby trained five-year-old comfortably scored by a length in the G.3 Arlington Stakes at the start of June, Flavien Prat who rode that day rides again, adding to his previous North American victory in last season’s G.2 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park. Charlie Appleby told the Godolphin website earlier this week “Ottoman Fleet heads into this in great order on the back of his win in the Arlington Stakes, which is a trial for this race. He has enjoyed a little break since and looks a worthy favourite in a small but competitive field.” he'll be short enough but looks a solid bet, get yourself the best price you can when they price up. The reopposing Chasing The Crown is the one most likely to fill the runner-up spot again.

Best bet for the horse racing at Saint-Cloud Sunday

The Group One 1m4f Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is the big race in France on Sunday due off at 2.55 and it is a bit of a puzzle. Arrest was due to run but hasn't made the trip. Point Lonsdale got the better of Arrest in the 1m5 ½f G.3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester on Good in May but is also yet to taste victory at the top-table and may find one or two too good again in this line-up. Dubai Honour is a seasoned traveller and another very consistent type but doesn't perhaps win as often as you would like; does have G.1 winning form in Australia over shorter. Iresine had a pipe-opener at Lyon in May winning a Listed race on his seasonal debut. Winner of the 1m2½f G.1 Prix Ganay last year and the G.1 1m7½f Prix Royal-Oak in 2022 the seven-year-old is a solid performer but surely isn't getting better at his age. Outbox is over from the yard of Archie Watson with Hollie Doyle in the saddle. Good luck to them but this would require a career best from the nine-year-old, though if given an easy lead as he was at HQ in the  G.2 Jockey Club Stakes when winning earlier this season another shock could be on the card. Feed The Flame has been consistent at the top-level for a while but hasn't won since taking the G.1 1m4f Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in July last year. I tipped him when third in the G.1 1m4f Coronation Cup last time behind a back to form Luxembourg.  The Pascal Bary-trained four-year-old clearly needed his seasonal bow in the 1m2f Prix d’Harcourt, and then did best of the held-up runners in the G.1 1m2f Prix Ganay when beaten half-a-length in third coming widest of all up the straight. His third in the Coronation Cup isn't bad form either and this race may be run to suit. I am on the four-year-old at 5-1

Best bet for the horse racing at the Curragh Sunday

On Sunday the Group One 1m4f Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is the main event at 4.05 with Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles meeting again having finished second and third in the Derby at Epsom earlier this month. One of the Dirty Dozen horses to follow runs in the shape of Grosvenor Square. Third in the G.3 1m4½f Chester Vase Stakes back in May the colt was due to run at Royal Ascot but was taken out of the 1m6f G.2 Queens Vase. I said at the start of the year that he might be a St Leger horse in my opinion and though it may appear here is in here as a pacemaker for his stablemate he can be backed each-way at 14-1 and and he certainly has the ability to be on the premises in this, especially if the market principals falter.

Be lucky