Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up six racing tips at Newmarket, Ascot and Longchamp on Saturday. View selections below.
AL RIFFA (3.20) can go close at rewarding odds in tomorrow’s showstopping Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Joseph O’Brien has mapped out a careful route leading to Longchamp, giving Al Riffa only one start on the back of a sterling second place behind City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown this midsummer.
That outing resulted in an emphatic victory in the Grosser Preis von Berlin in early August 11, a race which has proved a successful Arc stepping stone in the past.
Torquator Tasso and Alpinista were both recent victors, while Marienbard (2002) and Danedream (2011) also completed that double in the same year.
A very wide draw traditionally is hard to overcome, so stall nine should be manageable.
Back home at Newmarket this afternoon, TAMFANA (2.40) is probably the correct market leader ahead of the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes.
She had been taking on exalted company, running well in defeat before gaining a confidence booster in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes at Sandown in late August.
David Menuisier’s filly was also a Group Three winner as a juvenile and ran right up to the mark when finishing fourth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Soft ground is okay and Colin Keane takes the reins.
Oisin Murphy’s mount INCENSED (3.15) has been raised 6lb for her latest success but is worth support in the 1m 4f fillies’ handicap.
Andrew Balding’s three-year-old made all before striding four lengths clear at Kempton last month and this previous Carlisle maiden victor is equally at home on turf.
Cabrera can go well sporting first-time cheek-pieces, while Quietness seeks her sixth win of the season. William Buick is a notable booking for the top weight.
William Haggas fields a strong team at Ascot where HAMISH (2.25) will have no trouble handling the forecast deep ground in the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes.
Hamish found the concession of plenty of weight too much when never laying a glove on hot-pot Kalpana at Kempton last time but a return to the grass can spark a revival of fortune
A repeat of his second place behind Luxembourg in the Coronation Cup at Epsom would make him hard to beat and he holds a previous verdict over re-opposing Al Qareem.
Likely market leader Al Aasy took Al Qareem’s measure in the Geofreey Freer Stakes at Newbury and this has all the trappings of a ding-dong battle.
Haggas strips RELIEF RALLY (1.50) with leading credentials in the 5f BetMGM Rous Stakes.
A winner of four of her five starts as a juvenile, Relief Rally chased home No Half Measures on her latest start at Newbury (heavy) and is preferred to Karl Burke’s northern challenger Beautiful Diamond, far from disgraced in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh almost three weeks ago.
Recar host their valuable William Hill Two Year Old Trophy and this 6f juvenile contest often goes to one of the market leaders.
BILLBOARD STAR (3.20) was last seen running third behind Richard Fahey’s Powerful Glory in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury (heavy) a fortnight ago and fits the bill.
Fahey fields a strong candidate in Uncle Don, runner-up in good company at Ayr last month and a previous Beverley scorer.
Jospeh O’Brien despatches a rare Irish raider in Midnight Strike and the colt is worth a market check.
Tally Ho
Alan
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
