Six-year-old Enable (3.05) can make history at Longchamp on Sunday and win a record-breaking third Arc for trainer John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. The Italian has ridden the winner of the greatest flat race in the world six times previously, but he really should already have a magnificent seven as he chased too fast a pace on board the mare 12 months ago and was mugged on the line by Andre Fabre’s Waldgeist.
Enable is a best price of 11/8 and I really do feel it is her race to lose such is her superiority over what could not be described as a vintage field. The champion three-year-old and antepost favourite Love was withdrawn on Thursday on account of the likely soft ground and the door is ajar for Enable to walk through it. When you consider the brilliant stayer Stradivarius – another six-year-old – is 11/2 second favourite you get some idea of the quality of the opposition. I feel Enable – who has a good draw in stall five – is a class apart and will be sent off a shade of odds on.
On Saturday at Longchamp I hope to see Manuel De Vega (2.15) land the Prix De Royallieu for Ralph Beckett stepping back up to a-mile-and-three-quarters. The mare – 4s with Willim Hill – won her first couple this term before disappointing in the Yorkshire Oaks behind Love, but the rain has arrived in time for her and 4/1 looks a fair ew price.
Ascot was abandoned on Saturday monning but Group 1 action at Newmarket this afternoon and I hope to see Champers Elysees (2.45) continue her winning run. Johnny Murtagh’s filly began the season off a mark of 86 but she has made her way up through the ranks and ran out an impressive winner of the Gp 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown last time. I hope she can make it five out of five this term in the Sun Chariot Stakes over the Rowley Mile. The filly is 7/2 with William Hill.
I was disappointed with Ice Sprite (3.20) at Goodwood last time but am prepared to give her another chance in the fillies’ handicap. The William Haggas-trained filly has winning form on soft ground and she is taken to return to winning ways. The three-year-old is 7/2 with Unibet.
I like the booking of Tom Marquand for John Locke (4.35) in the straight mile final at Redcar. The selection drops back in trip having scored at Goodwood over 10f on good to soft last time having been no match for the progressive stayer at Lingfield – turf – previously over 12f. With such a big field one would imagine there will be plenty of pace in the race, and I hope Marquand can swoop fast and late from his high draw. The ew recommendation is 4s with 10bet who are betting each way five places.
At Uttoxeter tomorrow I’m looking forward to the chase debut of Emitom in the Beginners’ Chase. The six-year-old was last seen finishing fourth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham back in March and stays further than the two-and-a-half-mile trip of Sunday’s contest.
Wenceslaus (3.46) represents the inform yard of David Bridgewater and Mitchell Bastyan takes off a valuable 5lbs on the gelding whose course record reads 12 and who will not be inconvenienced if the ground deteriorates.
