Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday's racing at Paris Longchamp, Ascot, Chester, and, Newmarket.
Paris Longchamp
Race 1 QATAR PRIX DECHAUDENAY (Group 2)
No4 MANOBO
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: James Doyle
MANOBO is one of the few horses to win a Listed race by a double-figure margin and will appeal to professional pundits as one of the safest bets of this magnificent Arc weekend. The gelded son of Sea The Stars took out the Prix Turenne at Saint-Cloud by ten lengths which is an outstanding credential to showcase in a cracking opener.
Race 3 QATAR PRIX DANIEL WILDENSTEIN (Group 2)
No7 VICTOR LUDORUM (Nap)
Trainer: Andre Fabre – Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
VICTOR LUDORUM looked on the cusp of a return to winning ways when beaten just a length and a quarter by Baaeed in the Moulin. That represents a big step up from his flop in the Jacques Le Marois and indicates his master trainer can enjoy a bountiful autumn and late-year campaign with him, with overseas trips surely in the offing.
Race 4 QATAR PRIX DU CADRAN (Group 1)
No12 PRINCESS ZOE (Each Way)
Trainer: Anthony Mullins – Jockey: Joey Sheridan
Stradivarius will be all the rage for the Day 1 highlight but the seven-time Group 1 winner might prove vulnerable to tough-as-teak mare PRINCESS ZOE who can go back-to-back in the race that propelled her to the headlines 12 months ago.
The grey gave every impression of being close to a return to that level of form when making a race of it with the fitter Twilight Payment in a Curragh Group 3 last month, and comes here with most of the bases covered. SKAZINO may prove the pick of the home team, while Trueshan will love every drop of rain that’s fallen in the Bois De Boulogne this weekend and can earn.
Race 5 QATAR PRIX DE ROYAILLIEU (Group 1)
No10 WILLOW (Each Way)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Gavin Ryan
Although some of her form this year has been underwhelming, WILLOW remains a filly to stay interested in for rich pickings through the autumn. A superbly-bred individual by American Pharaoh out of Peeping Fawn, she has left her light under a bushel but has been working well following a break.
Race 7 QATAR PRIX DOLLAR (Group 2)
No7 THIRD REALM (Each Way)
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Dubai Honour will be a tough nut to crack for Godolphin but one that could provide a shock to the favourite is THIRD REALM. The Sea The Stars colt might have looked out of sorts in the Great Voltigeur at York but on the pick of his efforts would win this. That happened with a cosy success over Adayar in the Lingfield Derby Trial, and here’s his chance to prove the form book rarely lies
ASCOT
Race 3 ABF/BGC Cumberland Lodge Stakes ( Group 3)
No1 HUKUM (Nap)
Trainer: Owen Burrows – Jockey: Jim Crowley
HUKUM is best forgiven his odds-on defeat in the September Stakes at Kempton and rates the best bet on this card. Both a switch onto Polytrack combined with a muddling pace brought about the downfall of this long-striding, rangy individual. Previously he’d looked every inch a horse to stay with when taking out the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury. He faces strong competition from the talented Title, who receives 9lb, but may have too much conviction for that younger foe should they engage in a battle.
Race 4 John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (Group 3)
No13 VADREAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: David Egan
Three-year-old filly VADREAM appeals as one of the best bets of the day after being unlucky not to pick up a Pattern race this season. The strong traveller hasn’t had things drop right in Group 3s at York, Goodwood and Deauville and will win when she enjoys the rub of the green. With the likes of Great Ambassador, Bielsa and Tabdeed in opposition, she will go off at a price, making her a mouth-watering each-way proposition.
Race 5 No2 ESCOBAR (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
Another that needs everything to drop right. ESCOBAR can have a major say in the outcome of this fiercely competitive handicap. You have to go back two years to spot his last win, but he is going to enjoy the way this race is run, and under a trademark, late bid can swoop to conquer.
CHESTER
Race 4 No3 FLYING WEST (Nap)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Adam Farragher
FLYING WEST ran into one in Spirit Of The Bay at Sandown, but chasing that one home by a narrowing neck showed she is on the cusp of a return to winning ways. This looks like a perfect opportunity to get her career back on track.
Race 7 No4 LIFE ON THE ROCKS
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Tony Hamilton
As long as they go a good lick, LIFE ON THE ROCKS can belatedly open his account on this third outing for his trainer. The selection ran into the progressive Barn Owl at Beverley last time and shouldn’t find anything quite of that ilk lurking to hunt him down.
NEWMARKET
Race 3 No1 FEARBY (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The big Sales race can see FEARBY outclassing his foes in what is a class drop for the Havana Gold colt. Placed in the Molecomb, Gimcrack and Mill Reef on his last three outings, Fearby has the points on the board to make this a welcome return to the winners’ circle.
Race 4 KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN SUN CHARIOT STAKES (Group 1)
No12 SNOW LANTERN
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
The undoubted highlight of today’s action in Britain can go to SNOW LANTERN. Unlike all but two of her dozen rivals she is already a Group 1 winner, having taken out the Falmouth Stakes at the July meeting here. Also placed in Group 1s at Ascot and Goodwood, the grey latterly troubled the judge when fourth to Baaeed in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp and is the complete package.
Mother Earth enters calculations as the winner of the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville but has work to do to turn round the Falmouth form with the selection. She does however look nailed on for a collection of some kind and needs to go into all exotics.
No Speak Alexander took out the Matron at Leopardstown after flopping in the Marois and is more likely to get into the shake-up than many, while Fev Rover appeals as the best of the roughies and can also earn.
Prediction: 1st SNOW LANTERN, 2nd Mother Earth, 3rd No Speak Alexander, 4th Fev Rover
Race 6 No2 NELL QUICKLY
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
On a card in which distaffers take centre stage, NELL QUICKLY can give her trainer a biggest pay day of the season. The daughter of The Gurkha has gone from strength to strength, and after outpointing the useful Maytal at Salisbury last time can complete a fine hat-trick.
Race 7 No6 CASTANA DIA
Trainer: Chris Wall – Jockey: Jack Mitchell
This all-aged fillies’ spring is packed with three-year-olds, of whom CASTANA DIA can emerge triumphant. The daughter of Dandy Man has earned in all but one of her eight career starts, and though meeting her match in Media Guest at Yarmouth last time is fully capable of bouncing back as she’s got plenty of scope.
