The horse racing week ahead
As is often the case with a major meeting at the weekend most the week offers run of the mill stuff and nothing jumps off the page at me for the first half of the week as far as having a bet is concerned at the moment. The Tips For Every Race At raceday-ready.com EBF Maiden Stakes over a mile at Newcastle on Thursday evening has twenty-six entered at the moment with a host of big yards represented. Via trainers Charlie Appleby, Saeed bin Suroor and John & Thady Gosden Godolphin have six entered as of Monday evening, with William Haggas, Hugo Palmer, Sir Michael Stoute and Archie Watson just some of the other trainers with entries. It could be a race well worth watching.
Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamp is the main event of the week and is looking like being a great afternoons racing. The Arc looks a wide-open race at the moment with Look De Vega, my ante-post punt having blotted his copybook last time out. Sosie is the 4-1 favourite Monday evening with Look De Vega now available at 6-1; I have 3's ante-post. Reportedly Look De Vega put in a 'remarkable piece of work' over the weekend and connections appear in bullish mood again. Final declarations and the all-important draw will be on Thursday morning. Sunway was the only British-trained entry to stand his ground at Monday’s forfeit stage with a total of eighteen left in the race as of this evening. They host six Group One races in total at Longchamp on Sunday including the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, Qatar Prix de la Foret and Prix de l'Opera Longines. The 2m4f Group One Prix du Cadra is the highlight of their card on Saturday.
As for the rest of the weekend the mile Group One Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes is the race of the weekend here in the UK with Inspiral likely to have her last run before going off to the breeding sheds. It has to be said she hasn't looked anywhere near as good this term and the fairy-tale ending of going out with a victory may prove beyond her with the likes of Nashwa, Tamfana and See The Fire also probable runners; I wouldn't be getting involved until we know who actually runs come Saturday. Belmont at the Big A also continues this weekend out in the States and there are a couple of races that may prove of interest on Friday and Saturday evening.
Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamp is the main event of the week and is looking like being a great afternoons racing. The Arc looks a wide-open race at the moment with Look De Vega, my ante-post punt having blotted his copybook last time out. Sosie is the 4-1 favourite Monday evening with Look De Vega now available at 6-1; I have 3's ante-post. Reportedly Look De Vega put in a 'remarkable piece of work' over the weekend and connections appear in bullish mood again. Final declarations and the all-important draw will be on Thursday morning. Sunway was the only British-trained entry to stand his ground at Monday’s forfeit stage with a total of eighteen left in the race as of this evening. They host six Group One races in total at Longchamp on Sunday including the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, Qatar Prix de la Foret and Prix de l'Opera Longines. The 2m4f Group One Prix du Cadra is the highlight of their card on Saturday.
As for the rest of the weekend the mile Group One Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes is the race of the weekend here in the UK with Inspiral likely to have her last run before going off to the breeding sheds. It has to be said she hasn't looked anywhere near as good this term and the fairy-tale ending of going out with a victory may prove beyond her with the likes of Nashwa, Tamfana and See The Fire also probable runners; I wouldn't be getting involved until we know who actually runs come Saturday. Belmont at the Big A also continues this weekend out in the States and there are a couple of races that may prove of interest on Friday and Saturday evening.