Horse Racing: Newmarket, Ascot, Redcar and Longchamp Preview

It’s an action-packed weekend of racing with high-class domestic action from Newmarket, Ascot and Redcar all featured by ITV racing on Saturday.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the attention turns across the channel where the mighty Enable looks to become the first horse to win three Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe after being successful in 2017, 2018 and runner up last year.

So here’s our resident tipster with his detailed look at all the big races and, of course, his ones to watch.

Newmarket

13.40
£150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes (Class 2)

30 two-year-olds are set to go to post for this valuable sales race but despite the large field there looks likely to be a warm favourite in the shape of Mighty Gurkha.

The Archie Watson trained runner comes out well clear on the ratings based on his narrow success in the group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton on his latest start.

He looks a worthy favourite especially with Hollie Doyle coming back in for the ride who has as a pleasing 22% strike rate with the yards runners in the last 12 months.

If there is a chink in the favourite it’s surely going to be if the ground conditions deteriorate especially considering he has to give weight all round.

Ocean Star was a wide margin winner of a maiden last time, he handles soft ground but is likely to have more competition for the lead on this occasion and she needs the blinkers to have the same impact this time around.

Fairy Dust needs to bounce back from a below-par effort on her latest start and is better judged on her 2^nd place finish in a listed event prior.

She should be thereabouts if able to reproduce that form back on softer ground. Gift List has form over further and this Bated Breath filly should have no issue handling the soft conditions.

The Karl Burke runner has shown a good attitude when winning her last 2 starts and the form of both those runs does not look to be working out too badly. She should have more to offer with just the 3 starts to date and makes plenty of each-way appeal

Selection: Gift List (Each Way)

14.10
1m 2f British EBF Premier Fillies Handicap (Class 2)

The progressive 3-year-old Oti Ma Boti in unbeaten on her 2 starts this season and the manner of her success at Goodwood last time suggested a 6lb rise in the weights should be within her measure, she has to be respected but does have to prove herself over this 10f trip.

Be More needs to bounce back from a couple of below-par efforts however she is 3 from 3 on soft ground and is also a previous winner here at Newmarket.

Oisin Murphy comes back in for the ride on the Andrew Balding filly and they have an excellent 37% strike rate when teaming up here at Newmarket in the last year.

Topweight Moll Davis has the form to be competitive if fully tuned up after a break and Wondorous Words and Moonlight In Paris are more lightly raced types to consider from there powerful stables.

Selection: Be More

14.45
1m Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 1)

A competitive looking Group 1 with a mixture of proven older horses taking on some progressive 3-year olds.

Terebellum is still lightly raced himself with just the 5 starts to date and the top-rated in the field is better judged on her 2^nd place effort in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot than when trying to make her own running here (July Course) last time.

This keen sort should find this run more to her liking and the Godolphin runner is expected to go close. Nazeef was victorious in that Newmarket race with Billesdon Brook close behind in 2^nd on that occasion, she’s since gone on to finish third in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood over 10f but seems better suited to this mile trip on soft ground.

Champers Elysees had the measure of Peaceful when the pair finished 1-2 in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on their latest starts.

Ryan Moore comes in for the ride on the Aidan O`Brien runner on this occasion though and it could be a closer run thing this time especially with the latter already proven here under similar conditions.

At bigger odds, a chance is taken on Feliciana De Vega in a race where its hard to split many of the those towards the head of the market.

The lightly raced Ralph Beckett runner hasn’t been seen since winning a Group 3 here this time last year but the way she won that day suggested she would be up to mixing it at the highest level and we know conditions will be ideal for the Lope De Vega filly.

Selection: Feliciana De Vega

Ascot

13.55
5f Rous Stakes (Listed)

Last year’s winner Dakota Gold has returned to form on her recent runs and should go close once more. He does, however, look to face a stiffer test giving plenty of weight to the filly Maid In India.

The Eric Alston trained runner will find this easier than the group 1 she finished 4^th in last time out and Jamie Spencer looks an interesting jockey booking having ridden her to success on the only occasion he has ridden her in the past.

She has good form on soft/heavy conditions so any further rain will also be to her liking. Moss Gill is another who won’t mind the rain and should be thereabouts.

Selection: Maid In India (Nap)

14.30
1m 4f Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Group 3)

Last year’s St Leger winner Logician is clear on ratings and looks the one to beat having proven his well-being with a straight forward success at Doncaster recently.

He’s the most likely winner for sure but he does have to prove himself fully effective under what could be very soft conditions.

Morando is a solid performer at this level and relishes soft ground as shown when successful in this race last season.

He’s not been at his best this season to date but there was much more promise in his 2^nd place finish at Chester recently to suggest he should go close back under ideal conditions.

Selection: Morando

15.05
7f Challenge Cup Handicap (Class 2)

Last year’s winner Kynren arrives here in good form and gets to race off a 1lb lower mark this time taking into consideration his jockeys claim.

Proven under conditions another bold bid looks on the cards. We haven’t seen much of Raising Sand this season but the 4 times course winner should go close with the inform Saffie Osborn taking of what could be a valuable 7lbs.

Orbaan is likely to need some luck in running given his usual run style, but a fast run 7f under testing conditions could just be to this gelding liking and he`s taken to run down the field late under a likely patient Jamie Spencer ride.

Selection: Orbaan (Next Best)

15.40
6f Bengough Stakes (Group 3)

Despite returning from a lengthy absence of just under a year this looks a good opportunity for Cape Byron.

Successful in this race last year he is also proven after a lay off in the past so no excuse is expected for a lack of race sharpness.

His main market rivals all look to have been below there best on recent starts so it could be left to the progressive 3-year-old Brad The Brief to give the favourite most to think about who arrives here in good form after winning a listed event at Newmarket on soft ground last time.

Selection: Cape Byron

Redcar

15.25
6f Two-Year-Old Trophy (Listed)

Trainer Richard Fahey has won this on a couple of occasions in the past and whilst his Shark Two One looks to hold good claims based on his success in a similar race the Curragh on his latest starts its another of his runners who makes more appeal.

Blind Beggar is still a maiden after 4 visits to the racecourse but he has some solid place form to his name including a 2^nd place finish just 8 days ago in a class 2 handicap at Haydock.

He will need to step up again from that run but things didn’t go right on that occasion having being awkward at the start.

Progressive with each start to date this step a furlong should suit, has proven form on soft ground and looks to have a handy high draw.

Lullaby Moon was placed in a Group 3 last time out and Uncle Jumbo who drops back to 6f after a solid effort in a similar race are just two of many others with claims in an open event.

Selection: Blind Beggar

Longchamp (SUNDAY)

15:05
1m 4f Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1)

Enable is the obvious place to start in her quest to become the first triple winner of one of the most valuable and prestige flat races in the world.

She’s the been there done it in the field and although the testing ground is likely to not be in her favour like in last year’s race, she has though on this occasion been given a much bigger chance in regards the draw with an improved stall position of 5 this time around.

Enable will receive a handy 3lbs from her stablemate Stradivarius. The high-class cup horse showed he has the gears to cope with this drop in trip when running a close 2^nd here last time out to think about.

Soft ground suits and he looks the main danger as this becomes more and more a stamina test.

Last year’s third-place Sottsass has another good draw this year and a couple of recent runs should put him spot on for this, however, he gives the impression last year was his best chance to finish in front of Enable especially having to give her 3lbs this time around.

The 3-year-olds receive a weight allowance, which always brings them into consideration. The pick for me looks to be the Aidan O’Brien-trained Mogul, who showed a liking for this track with a nice win in the Grand Prix de Paris last month, beating the reopposing In Swoop.

He has a good draw in 3 unlike the other O’Brien runners Japan (11) and the supplemented Derby winner Serpentine (15)

The draw has been kinder for the French-trained Raabihah (2) is another drawn low in 2 and being a 3-year-old filly but despite receiving both the age and filly allowance she needs to take another step forward from her third-place finish over course and distance last time.

Selection: Enable