If you are a horse racing fan but have never been to Longchamp racecourse to watch the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, rectify that at some point and enjoy a long weekend in Paris at the same time. The course, set on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne, is delightful, the crowds for Europe’s biggest flat race are always manageable and, all in all, it’s a wonderful experience.
As for this year’s contest (Sunday, 3.05 p.m.), it is open with plenty of foreign horses from Britain, Ireland and Japan trying to prise the race from the grasp of local French trainers, just as British handler Ralph Beckett did a year ago with Bluestocking.
The draw for this race is usually hugely influential, with low numbers considerably favoured. DARYZ, one of three runners for up-and-coming French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, ran a shocker in a strange-running of the Juddmonte Stakes at York in August but this three-year-old colt is much better than he showed that day. He largely restored his reputation with a much better performance when a close second in his Arc prep run at Longchamp last month.
Daryz should handle the likely soft ground and, although, he is untried over a mile and a half, he is bred to relish the extra distance. More importantly, he is drawn in stall two which should be just about perfect. Back him 1 point each way at 14-1 with bet365, offering four places.
At Ascot tomorrow, the BetMGM Rous Stakes (1.50 p.m.) should be fought out, on official ratings, between the two horses at the top of the market: Shagraan and Beautiful Diamond.
However, if there is one horse open to plenty of improvement it is CANDY for the all-conquering Richard Spencer/George Wood trainer/jockey combination. This improving three-year-old filly won the Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup a fortnight ago with plenty in hand and, although tomorrow’s race is over five furlongs, not six, she has plenty of speed.
Hopefully, with lots of rain forecast overnight, she will get the soft ground that she needs to be at her best by the off, and so back her 2 points win at 11-2 with William Hill.
In the hope that the forecast overnight rain arrives, I want to back another confirmed soft-ground performer in the BetMGM Challenge Cup (3.35 p.m.). Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton is enjoying a fine season and she insisted in a recent Racing Post Weekender stable tour that BALMACARA is 10lbs better on soft ground.
In fact, Balmacara is 6lbs well in in this early-closing handicap for his fine run in a listed race at Sandown last time on soft ground and so back this four-year-old gelding 1 point each way at a very generous 20-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral, both paying five places. That’s good value but there is a health, or wealth, warning: he sometimes pulls too hard so he is anything but a banker.
However, the real quality racing is on the other side of the English Channel this weekend but with the Sunday’s race cards, other than the Arc, not finalised at the time of writing this blog, I will stay with just the one tip for Longchamp. Here’s hoping Daryz can land the big race.
Pending:
2 points win Candy at 11-2 for the Rous Stakes.
1 point each way Balmacara at 20-1 for the Challenge Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Daryz at 14-1 for the Arc, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Divine Comedy at 20-1 for the Cesarewitch, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Waardah at 8-1 for the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
Last weekend: – 8 points.
1 point each way Mythical Guest at 8-1 (BOG) for the BoylesSport Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way The Publican’s Son at 5-1 for the Middle Park Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Real Gain at 25-1 for the Cambridgeshire, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Urban Lion at 33-1 for the Cambridgeshire, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2025 flat season running total: + 76.82 points.
2024-5 jump season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
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