Stodge

As always, the best comparison for NZ isn't the UK but Ireland. Currently there is a single AW track at Dundalk but a second one at Tipperary is planned for 2022. Dundalk opened in 2007 alongside a pre-existing dog racing track at a cost of 24 million euros. It has two Group 3 races and a Listed event and often races on Friday evenings as it has floodlights and along with UK meetings makes for a busy winter Friday evening in the bookies. The races are very well supported by all the top Irish trainers including Aidan O'Brien and of course a Tipperary venue will be half an hour down the road. It provides opportunities for horses which wouldn't otherwise exist - Ireland is a very wet country and I suspect by November every grass Flat track will be unraceable - the jump tracks will be bogs but raceable. Dundalk keeps the show on the road - they have eight and nine race cards which have strong prize money. The point is there's a niche for AW racing if you have a climate which can make grass racing difficult whether by making the ground too heavy or too firm. The surface can be harrowed as required and it could be used 100-120 days a year easily. There's also the thought of selling the product to other markets whether in Asia, the Middle East or Europe. Look at the time difference and it's not easy but not impossible and online gambling makes it a 24/7 experience. Would UK punters prefer betting on NZ racing to US racing? I don't know but it could be shown on the specialist racing channels or live streamed.

As said earlier, a massive weekend approaching and in many ways the climax to the European season with Arc day in Paris. It's a huge weekend elsewhere with Group 1 racing in the UK and the small matter of the Preakness at Pimlico on Saturday evening. Newmarket hosts the Sun Chariot Stakes, a Group 1 for the fillies and mares over 1600m. The ground is currently Good to Soft but more rain is forecast with Saturday looking a really bleak day. 17 have been entered and favourite currently is CHAMPERS ELYSSES (ironic for Arc weekend) who won the Matron last time in style. She beat PEACEFUL that day but the latter is very good and may be better suited back to a straight 1600m. Top rated is the 4-y-o TEREBELLUM who was second in the Queen Anne before just failing when beaten half a length into third behind NAZEEF in the Falmouth. NAZEEF was very disappointing last time at Deauville and I think TEREBELLUM has real claims. Plenty of quality throughout this field and it'll be interesting to see who stands on Thursday. The Preakness at Pimlico on Saturday evening (UK) sees the return of Kentucky Derby winner AUTHENTIC and he'll be very hard to beat. The filly SWISS SKYDIVER is a fascinating runner in a race which few fillies contest but on all known form AUTHENTIC looks the one. Notwithstanding the Epsom and the Metropolitan, great races thought they are, the eyes of the racing world turn to Paris for the two-day Arc Weekend at Longchamp. The ground remains Very Soft and with more rain forecast, it could be really testing. Saturday has two Group 1 and three Group 2 races to savour. The Royallieu is for the staying fillies and mares over 2800m. 15 have been entered with seven older fillies and eight 3-y-o making up the field. Favourite is MANUELA DE VEGA who is proven on soft turf at 2400m. Granted, she was no match for LOVE last time but that's no disgrace. The Irish are well represented with Joseph O'Brien entering PISTA who won the Park Hill at Doncaster last time - she won on heavy ground at Galway but that was a maiden not a Group 1. EBAIYRA loved the step up to 2400m when winning the Pomone last time - 2800m on deep ground is a question but I think she's the one likely to have the answers. The Cadran over 4000m is the championship staying race in the French season. CALL THE WIND is a really good horse - he was second in this last year - and looked good when winning the Kergorlay at Deauville. There are some interesting horses in opposition including the 2019 Irish Derby winner SOVEREIGN but he was well held in the Irish St Leger last time. The Chaudenay is a Group 2 over 3000m for the 3-y-o - it's the French version of the English St Leger while the Royal Oak later in the year is generally known as the French Leger but is open to older horses (like the Irish Leger). Nine have been entered including two British runners and two from Aidan O'Brien but I quite like MEASURE OF TIME from the Fabre yard. The Dollar is over 2000m. 14 have been entered and it looks a trappy heat. The Daniel Wildenstein over 1600m has 18 entries and my eye is drawn to CENTURY DREAM who loves soft or heavy ground as he showed when winning the Celebration Mile at Goodwood. At the moment, 16 are in Sunday's Arc de Triomphe, Europe's richest race with a first prize of £1.45 million. Aidan O'Brien has supplemented English Derby winner SERPENTINE but TELECASTER has been scratched after working poorly this morning. The betting this evening is 13/8 ENABLE, 11/4 LOVE, 15/2 STRADIVARIUS and 10/1 Bar. SOTTSASS was third in the Arc last year and hasn't run back at this trip since - at 10/1 he looks a knocking each way price at this stage.

A chance to look back on the weekend just gone and it was a bleak and blustery afternoon at Newmarket for the final day of the Cambridgeshire meeting. A strong tailwind would be of significance not only in terms of drying the ground to Good but also in favouring front runners and it was an afternoon to be close to the pace if not leading. The two juvenile Group 1 races kicked off with the Cheveley Park over 1200m. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-x9wHl7RI8 A superb performance on just her third outing by ALCOHOL FREE to see off the fancied MISS AMULET in the final 50m. From a betting point of view, although I backed the winner each way at much bigger odds than her final return of 7/2, I backed MISS AMULET to win so had the result been the other way round it would have worked better for your correspondent. On breeding, you'd think ALCOHOL FREE would get 1600m but not much further but she will hopefully grow through the winter and be a real classic prospect. MISS AMULET seemed to hit a flat spot much as she had at York but finished well. UMM KULTHUM came on a lot for her win in Group 3 company in Scotland while HAPPY ROMANCE was held in fourth and the rest were well beaten off including DANDALLA. The Middle Park looked a strong renewal on paper with plenty of Group 2 winners in opposition and three such filled the first three places: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prWRLAoXI6Y SUPREMACY made almost all and on a day tailor made for front runners it did feel it flattered him a notch but the opportunity was there and Adam Kirby took it. The trainer had been worried about the softening ground earlier in the week but the drying wind had just done enough. SUPREMACY is all speed and won't be aimed at classics but at the Commonwealth Cup. LUCKY VEGA did very little wrong and it'll be interesting to see if Jessica Harrington steps him up in trip again next spring. He looks the Guineas type to me while third placed MINZAAL looks another speedball - if anything, I'd love to see him at 1000m. Of the others, METHOD's run can be forgotten as the saddle slipped badly. Earlier, NEW MANDATE had put up a decent performance to win the Group 2 Royal Lodge but as a gelding a lot of doors are closed to him. I suspect the proximity of ONTARIO will convince Aidan O'Brien he has little to fear from the English juveniles and in the Beresford Stakes HIGH DEFINITION put up a visually highly impressive performance coming from last to first to run down MONASSIB close home. You never quite know when you see a performance like that whether the winner was flattered by others stopping on what was quite slow ground but HIGH DEFINITION is now favourite for the 2021 Derby. Kevin Blake on ITV opined HIGH DEFINITION might not be the sure fire stayer he seems - the full brother, INNISFREE, won the Beresford in 2019 but was then well beaten by KAMEKO in the Vertem Futurity and hasn't seen as a 3-y-o. The other full brother, ROYAL AIDE, was incredibly slow but won a 2400m handicap at Bellewstown. He was later gelded and sent over jumps and he now plies his trade over 4800m in hurdles so you never can tell. Perhaps the most impressive performance of all was in America in the early hours of Sunday morning (UK) as IMPROBABLE brushed aside stable companion MAXIMUM SECURITY in the Awesome Again and propelled himself to the forefront of the Breeders Cup Classic betting. Out the back, he just went round the while field and drew clear to win hard held by five lengths. He had won the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Whitney but they had looked sub-standard renewals but this was a top-notch performance.

A huge week up here as we move towards Arc Weekend in Paris. Heavy rain has turned the ground Very Soft and has caused some anxiety among fans of LOVE for whom slow ground is an unknown and whose action, many think, is ideally suited to decent ground. ENABLE, we know, goes on soft turf and as much she is now 6/4 favourite for the big race on Sunday. In terms of the French races, it's a two-day meeting and on Saturday we have two Group 1 races - the Royallieu over 2800m for the staying fillies and mares and the Cadran over 4000m for the real stayers. There are three supporting Group 2 events, the Dollar, Chaudenay and the Daniel Wildenstein. Sunday has six Group 1 races making it the best single day's racing in Europe of the year. Aside from the Arc, we have the Lagardere and the Marcel Boussac for the juveniles, the Opera for the fillies and mares, the Abbaye for the sprinters and the Foret for the 1400m horses. The running order is to be confirmed and I'll be updating through the week as we approach the big weekend.

Time to look back at Friday's action from Newmarket where it was blowing a gale with a real taste of autumn. The ground had eased to Good, Good to Soft in places following rain. The two Group 2 races started with the Rockfel for the juvenile fillies over 1400m. This went to ISABELLA GILES, the daughter of freshman sire Belardo, who made almost all and ran on far too strongly for the others. She seemed to love really soft ground at Goodwood and while this was quicker she relished a little bit of juice. The Irish raider MONDAY ran a dismal fourth. The winner might go for the Fillies' Mile next month but this wasn't the strongest Group 2 ever and she'll need to improve. The Joel Stakes was a much warmer race and featured an intriguing clash between BENBATL, previous winner of the race, runner up in a Cox Plate and third in the Saudi Cup and the 2000 Guineas winner KAMEKO. Thanks to the conditions of the race, KAMEKO, despite being a 3-y-o, was giving the older BENBATL 1 lb by virtue of an 8 lb penalty for winning a Group 1. It made no difference - BENBATL led but couldn't clear away from the field on the slower ground while KAMEKO, back at the scene of his Guineas triumph, seemmed, to this observer, to relish the slower turf and came home in front of REGAL REALITY who nicked second from BENBATL. Both first and second have proven form over 2000m but the wind was blowing behind the runners so perhaps the ground was slower than the times indicated. Either way, it was appropriate recompense for KAMEKO and his connections for whom it all went wrong in both the Derby and the Sussex before having his limitations at 2000m cruelly exposed by GHAIYYATH at York. Given what happened to Roaring Lion, I can understand Sheikh Fahad seeking a quick stallion replacement but there must be a temptation to keep KAMEKO in training as a 4-y-o given the paucity of the older mile division. I think he's tailor made for the Lockinge and the Queen Anne.

Indeed - already shaping up to be a proper championship race. Kevin Blake, who does a lot of Joseph O'Brien's race planning, more or less confirmed on ITV yesterday afternoon THUNDER MOON would be heading to the Dewhurst and it seems Aidan will send over BATTLEGROUND, who was a late scratching from the National due to coughing. They will go against CHINDIT and ALBASHEER, the first two from the Champagne at Doncaster but Joseph O'Brien has STATE OF REST, who was a close third and he should know where THUNDER MOON and STATE OF REST are relative to each other so he may think he has the British horses covered but BATTLEGROUND is a different matter. The Middle Park tomorrow should be informative about the speedier types while I thought LA BAROSSA did it very nicely at Newmarket over 1400m yesterday. I also see CADILLAC from Jessica Harrington's yard in the Dewhurst betting and he impressed me at Leopardstown a fortnight ago.

So to Saturday and at Newmarket, after overnight rain, the ground has eased back to Good. Just five stand in the Group 2 Royal Lodge over 1600m and it looks a modest renewal. Top rated is NEW MANDATE who won in Listed class at Doncaster a fortnight ago. It was a decent effort but COBH is favourite possibly less because of the balance of his form than because of the quality of opposition and more especially the horse who beat him at Ascot two runs ago, CHINDIT, who is a leading player in the 2000 Guineas betting. I like the unbeaten GEAR UP who won the Acomb at York last time and wouldn't mind a drop of rain. I'm worried about any Aidan O'Brien challenger and the master of Ballydoyle runs ONTARIO who was a close third in the Futurity last time. 9 go in the Group 1 Cheveley Park for the juvenile fillies over 1200m. Top rated is MISS AMULET who did me a nice favour in the Lowther beating SACRED. The latter was a close second over 1000m at Doncaster and just gives me the impression she is all speed. DANDALLA is the class act having won the Albany at Ascot and then the Duchess of Cambridge on the July track but she really needs soft ground to be at her best so every drop of rain works to her advantage. UMM KULTHUM won Scotland's only Group race at Ayr last week (ILLYKATO well held in fifth) but I'd be surprised if that was good enough. HAPPY ROMANCE won a couple of valuable sales race before winning a Group 3 at Salisbury last time beating the inexperienced ALCOHOL FREE (only having her second run) and the latter has reasonable prospects of reversing the places and at 10/1 she looks the each way value but I'd be on MISS AMULET as the likely winner. The Middle Park for the colts over 1200m has 8 runners and looks a warm race. Favourite is the unbeaten METHOD but you're backing him on what he might be rather than what he has shown. MINZAAL was a taking winner of the Gimcrack and would be my choice just in front of LUCKY VEGA who won the Phoenix in Ireland (their equivalent of this) and had a luckless run in the National. He's a serious challenger as is SUPREMACY who was an impressive winner of the Richmond at Goodwood two months ago - the worry is whether some have improved past him. TACTICAL won the Windsor Castle at Ascot but was well held in the Morny and I just think he's a speedball and the same may be true of Norfolk winner THE LIR JET who was no match for LUCKY VEGA in the Phoenix last time. MINZAAL is my idea of the winner but I'm really worried about both LUCKY VEGA and SUPREMACY. The free-to-air tv coverage on Saturday up here will also include the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at The Curragh over 1600m for the juvenile colts. It's actually Ireland's equivalent of the Royal Lodge and it does seem odd to have the two races on the same day. HIGH DEFINITION represents Ballydoyle and he was a nice winner on debut (which isn't that common with Aidan O'Brien juveniles) over course and distance and that form looks better than WUQOOD's maiden win at Gowran. The North American autumn season continues its journey towards the Breeders Cup meeting in early November and top older Dirt performer, MAXIMUM SECURITY, returns in the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. He looked back to near his best at Del Mar last month and this should be a nice continuation of his preparation for the Classic at Keeneland.

Just to wrap up last weekend - the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury went to ALKUMAIT who had too much speed for FIVETHOUSANDTOONE in the final 100m. RHYTHM MASTER, for whom it happened all too quickly over 1200m on quite fast ground, ran on for third and will relish a step up in trip. The winner was only having his third run having won nicely in a maiden at Goodwood on his second run - this was a big step up and he took it well and was a nice tonic for this trainer who had lost MOHAATHER to stud after injury. ALKUMAIT is by Showcasing out of a Dutch Art so even 1600m may be pushing it and I expect he's a Commonwealth Cup horse for next year. On then to Newmarket and the 3-day Cambridgeshire meeting starts tomorrow. The final declarations are through for Friday - just five run in the Rockfel for the juvenile fillies over 1400m. ISABELLA GILES, a daughter of freshman sire Belardo, romped home by seven lengths at Goodwood last time and could be improving fast. Any rain will be a huge help and she's opposable on the current Good to Firm ground. Favourite is MONDAY from the Ballydoyle yard of Aidan O'Brien. This will only be her third outing but she looked decent when winning in Listed company at Leopardstown last time and I suspect quick ground would hold no fears for her. SANTOSHA has to bounce back from a poor run in the Lowther and while both ALBA ROSE and NAZUNA have both won races, ratings of 83 and 87 respectively shouldn't be winning Group 2 races. Put simply, if there's no rain, MONDAY should win - if the heavens open, ISABELLA GILES is the likely beneficiary. The Joel has 8 runners but looks a fascinating clash between the 2000 Guineas winner, KAMEKO and the winner of this last year in the form of BENBATL. Throw into the mix the improving 3-y-o TILSIT and it looks a quality renewal. BENBATL loves quick turf and is wholly effective on Dirt. After winning this last year. he flopped on the heavy ground at Ascot but returned in style at Meydan winning Group 2 races on the grass and dirt and on his last outing was third to MAXIMUM SECURITY on the Dirt at Riyadh in the inaugural Saudi Cup. That was a massive run and to be fair if he produces that level of form after a break on his favoured conditions it'll take a good one to stop him. Normally the 2000 Guineas winner would be considered a "good one" and KAMEKO collected the first classic back in June but it didn't go well in either the Derby or the Sussex and he was again found out in the Juddmonte. Back to 1600m on a track he has proven form he has no excuses and, to be fair, both the horses placed behind him at Goodwood in the form of WICHITA and PINATUBO have won decent races though both have been shown to be 1400m horses. I think given the truncated nature of the re-start, the 2000 Guineas was too early to be the race it usually is and wasn't the best renewal. TILSIT won in controversial circumstances at Goodwood and TOP RANK picked up a weak Group 3 on soft ground at Haydock. REGAL REALITY is another who seems to relish very quick ground but while he looked good in Group 3 class at Salisbury, his limitations were exposed on soft ground in Group 2 company at Goodwood. It's not a race for me as a punting vehicle but I edge toward BENBATL and especially if the rain stays away. On to Saturday and while RUSSIAN CAMELOT bids to continue the upward trajectory in the Underwood, Newmarket stages two Group 1 races for the juveniles over 1200m and a Group 2 for the juvenile colts over 1600m - is this Future Champions Day you may ask? Nope, another fortnight to wait for that. Final declarations tomorrow - 11 have been entered for the Royal Lodge over 1600m, 6 of whom are from Aidan O'Brien's yard. The Middle Park for the colts has 10 entries including the unbeaten METHOD, impressive Gimcrack winner MINZAAL and the Phoenix winner LUCKY VEGA, back in trip after a luckless run in the National a fortnight ago. The Cheveley Park for the fillies has 12 entries including Lowther winner MISS AMULET, the speedy SACRED and the unbeaten DANDALLA, who would really need soft ground.

I think you have this about right. SANTIAGO needs slower ground to perform - at Ascot he got 2800m really well and Goodwood suggested he stayed 3200m but he was up against the class act that is STRADIVARIUS. SANTIAGO beat TIGER MOTH in the Irish Derby by a head so on weights there should be nothing in it. I'd be more worried about TIGER MOTH over the trip - he's by Galileo but the dam raced over 1200m and the full brothers only went a mile in Ireland. We know he gets 2400m but will he get the full MC trip?

I'll get to the very short review of last weekend presently but a heads up for the weekend ahead and there's a 3-day meeting at Newmarket starting on Thursday. This is the first of a series of Newmarket Saturday cards through the Autumn run on the Rowley Mile. We've had a real Indian Summer in recent days and the ground is currently Good to Firm but it's due to turn much colder and more unsettled from Wednesday so we'll see where we are by the end of the week. The quality builds through the meeting and on Friday there are a pair of Group 2 events. Seven have been entered for the Rockfel over 1400m for the juvenile fillies. MONDAY comes over from the Aidan O'Brien yard having won a Listed at Leopardstown last time. ISABELLA GILES won a Group 3 by seven lengths at Goodwood last time but that was on soft ground and SANTOSHA needs to bounce back from a dismal effort in the Lowther. HAPPY ROMANCE picked up sales races at Newbury and York before winning a Group 3 at Salisbury last time and in a sub-standard renewal, she looks most interesting. The Joel for the older milers has 19 entries and looks a really strong race. BENBATL will love the fast ground and won this last year slamming the useful KING OF COMEDY by five lengths. He meets another Qatar-owned rival in 2000 Guineas winner KAMEKO who hasn't really gone on from the June classic win. In his last three he's finished fourth in the Derby, Sussex and Juddmonte International so you can't say he's not been keeping good company. TILSIT won in controversial circumstances at Goodwood but is clearly on the upgrade while it's interesting to see GLOBAL GIANT come back to 1600m from 2000m though his form behind EXTRA ELUSIVE wasn't franked by the latter on Saturday. Saturday sees three Group races for the juveniles - the Group 2 Royal Lodge over 1600m for the colts and the 1200m Group 1 championship races - the Cheveley Park for the fillies and the Middle Park for the colts.

I'll get to the very short review of last weekend presently but a heads up for the weekend ahead and there's a 3-day meeting at Newmarket starting on Thursday. This is the first of a series of Newmarket Saturday cards through the Autumn run on the Rowley Mile. We've had a real Indian Summer in recent days and the ground is currently Good to Firm but it's due to turn much colder and more unsettled from Wednesday so we'll see where we are by the end of the week. The quality builds through the meeting and on Friday there are a pair of Group 2 events. Seven have been entered for the Rockfel over 1400m for the juvenile fillies. MONDAY comes over from the Aidan O'Brien yard having won a Listed at Leopardstown last time. ISABELLA GILES won a Group 3 by seven lengths at Goodwood last time but that was on soft ground and SANTOSHA needs to bounce back from a dismal effort in the Lowther. HAPPY ROMANCE picked up sales races at Newbury and York before winning a Group 3 at Salisbury last time and in a sub-standard renewal, she looks most interesting. The Joel for the older milers has 19 entries and looks a really strong race. BENBATL will love the fast ground and won this last year slamming the useful KING OF COMEDY by five lengths. He meets another Qatar-owned rival in 2000 Guineas winner KAMEKO who hasn't really gone on from the June classic win. In his last three he's finished fourth in the Derby, Sussex and Juddmonte International so you can't say he's not been keeping good company. TILSIT won in controversial circumstances at Goodwood but is clearly on the upgrade while it's interesting to see GLOBAL GIANT come back to 1600m from 2000m though his form behind EXTRA ELUSIVE wasn't franked by the latter on Saturday. Saturday sees three Group races for the juveniles - the Group 2 Royal Lodge over 1600m for the colts and the 1200m Group 1 championship races - the Cheveley Park for the fillies and the Middle Park for the colts.

I wouldn't get too excited about the SKYWARD run in the Foy. They dawdled, sprinted off the home turn and finished in a heap - the race was 6 seconds slower than the Grand Prix de Paris and 4 seconds off the Vermeille so I have my doubts. Having reviewed the Arc Trials, I was a bit harsh on STRADIVARIUS for whom the race was far from ideal. Given a stronger gallop and slower ground he'd have place chances in the Arc. ANTHONY VAN DYCK has been backed from 33s to 16s for the MC.

Sorry, you'll have to explain that. After REWILDING and CROSS COUNTER, wasn't something put in place to ensure really good European 3-y-os didn't get in with feather weights against handicappers?

Finally caught up with last Sunday's racing. TWILIGHT PAYMENT ran okay in the Irish Leger - he's 40/1 up here for the Cup and the same price as BUCKHURST. Current betting here has SURPRISE BABY as 8/1 favourite with RUSSIAN CAMELOT at 9s. I thought SANTIAGO finished weakly in the Leger and Dettori said after the race he didn't enjoy the quick turf so I couldn't have him unless it was really slow. ANTHONY VAN DYCK won the Foy which was run as a typical French race so they dawdled and sprinted off the turn and to be fair he battled on really strongly but would be vulnerable to a speed performer. I'd be surprised if MASTER OF REALITY was anywhere near good enough - PORT GUILLAUME ran a shocker in the Grand Prix de Paris and SIR DRAGONET always seems to find one to beat him which is okay when that's MAGICAL or ENABLE but he's lost some lesser races which he should have won. Of the others, PRINCE OF ARRAN had a nice run round Kempton the other day and must have a shout - DASHING WILLOUGHBY's Sandown win looked even better when SPANISH MISSION trotted up in the Doncaster Cup last Friday week but he was moderate behind ENBIHAAR in the Lonsdale and I need convincing. I think SOVEREIGN and TELECASTER are already non-runners and while I like TIGER MOTH, will he get in? It doesn't look a strong European challenge on paper at this stage.

Last Sunday featured six Group 1 races in Ireland and France so an afternoon of real quality. I'll start at The Curragh where the ground was perfect and the weather likewise for the second day of Irish Champions Weekend. The first of the four championship races was the Flying Five over 1000m for which 14 sprinters went to post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSB28CDzh5k As might be expected, a close finish but GLASS SLIPPERS is an autumn filly and her target will be to retain the Abbaye which she won last year. You'd be forgiven for thinking, given she has been well held twice by BATTAASH at Ascot and Goodwood this season, she'd be on a fool's errand taking him on again but BATTAASH won the Abbaye in 2017 when it was at Chantilly and has been an expensive failure the past two years and he looks especially vulnerable if it comes up soft or heavy. GLASS SLIPPERS loves slow wet turf and must have a big chance. The question over the form is or are the placed horses - both fillies but KEEP BUSY is borderline Listed class for all she ran very well last time while SONAIYLA was coming back in trip after a third in Group 3 company last time. The fancied raiders, QUE AMORO, A'ALI and EQUILATERAL were all well held with A'ALI especially disappointing trailing home last. The two juvenile championship races started with the Moyglare for the fillies over 1400m. PRETTY GORGEOUS went off a solid favourite after a clear win in the Debutante last month. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot10Vqa7UDc SHALE got her revenge on PRETTY GORGEOUS from the Debutante and it's hard to see there being any fluke about it. OODNADATTA got closer to SHALE than she had in the Silver Flash and while I think the former could be a decent longer-term prospect, it does seem as though the first two are the two top Irish juvenile fillies and perhaps we'll see one or both of them at the Newmarket Future Champions Meeting next month. The National Stakes was robbed of a degree of interest with the late defection of BATTLEGROUND (coughing) but MASTER OF THE SEAS and LUVCKY VEGA brought solid juvenile form to the table. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rufsi4CJjqU A messy and unsatisfactory race from where I was sitting. That said, THUNDER MOON got hampered, stopped in his run and still had a really strong turn of foot to get back in front close home which augurs well for the future. This was only his second run - he's by Zoffany out of a Sadler's Wells mare so 2000m at least should be within his compass but that turn of foot makes me think he's a miler in the making. The unconsidered WEMBLEY ran on down the outside and went straight into the notebook - this was his first run on decent ground having endured three or four runs on much slower surfaces. MASTER OF THE SEAS did plenty early on and had nothing left in the final 200m while LUCKY VEGA was anything but getting baulked twice and while I'm not saying he would have won, I think he'd have finished second with a clear run and while some thought after the race he hadn't proved he stayed 1400m, I'm convinced and I hope connections bring him to Newmarket to take on the likes of CHINDIT, ETONIAN and the top British juveniles. The Irish St Leger over 2800m has occasionally had a bearing on Melbourne's Spring Carnival and it was improving British handicapper FUJAIRA PRINCE who shared favouritism with the 2019 Irish Derby winner SOVEREIGN. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua4LB0FsZtw SEARCH FOR A SONG regained her title in this race having shown clear signs of a return to form behind MAGICAL in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. It was another tremendous training performance by Dermot Weld which would attain added poignancy in the following days with the passing of Weld's former stable jockey, Pat Smullen, whose charity race, run on this day last year, drew a number of ex-jockeys(both flat and jumps) out of retirement. FUJAIRA PRINCE and TWILIGHT PAYMENT both ran strong races in defeat but it may be only the latter of the front three will end up at Flemington as it seems more likely both SEARCH FOR A SONG and FUJAIRA PRINCE will head to Champions Day for the staying race. The Group 2 supporting Blandford Stakes for the fillies and mares saw a convincing win for CAYENNE PEPPER who was second in the Irish Oaks and whose form with TARNAWA would get an unexpected boost (more below), Back to 2000m seemed to work well for CAYENNE PEPPER and it'll be interesting to see where she goes next. Off to Longchamp at the end of the Bois de Boulogne in Paris for Arc Trials day but a different format this year with the Niel, the trial for the 3-y-o colts, replaced by the rescheduled Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris over 2400m. Ten went to post and this featured the loing-awaited return of the English Derby winner SERPENTINE, who had not been seen since his Epsom romp. He faced a numbe rof those he beat that day including ENGLISH KING and some useful local challengers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OWG-MmYOx0 One or two reputations left in tatters on the Parisien turf - PORT GUILLAUME ran a shocker while ENGLISH KING was never travelling and SERPENTINE's Epsom winner was revealed to be the fluke many thought it was at the time. The English 3-y-o colts look distinctly average and the French little better but for MOGUL this was redemption. This is a horse Ryan Moore has always loved but with Moore at The Curragh it was Pierre Charles-Boudot who came in for the plum ride and he gave MOGUL a beautiful run round and in the end did this easily. I'm to be convinced I've seen an Arc winner - MOGUL has twice finished behind PYLEDRIVER and the latter was held in the Leger so it all reads a bit average if I'm being honest. The placed horses, IN SWOOP and GOLD TRIP, had finished third and first in the Greffulhe way back in June but hadn't much since and with MISHRIFF having won the Jockey Club you're struggling to see a decent French 3-y-o colt as well. The 3-y-o fillies have been a better bunch with LOVE in particular looking like a potential champion but they had their Arc Trial in the Vermeille along with the older fillies and mares. RAABIHAH was strongly fancied. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPuNdUQeeUA An emphatic win for TARNAWA who looked really good on this evidence. She is one of those slow-maturing Aga Khan fillies with which Dermot Weld does so well and on an afternoon where Weld picked up another Group 1 with a filly, this capped a fine day for the master trainer. TARNAWA had won the Blandford last year and on her re-appearance after a 294-day break had beaten CAYENNE PEPPER (this year's Blandford winner) at Cork. TARNAWA heads for the Fillies & Mares at Ascot on Champions Day and must have real claims if the ground doesn't come up too deep - she ran in the race last year and got bogged down in the mud. RAABIHAH ran okay but you had a sense the bubble was burst for that one and with less than two lengths between her and Irish Oaks winner EVEN SO in sixth, the sense for me was that LOVE and ENABLE have little to worry about from the other fillies and, with the defeat of GHAIYYATH at Leopardstown, the older colts either. The current Arc betting in the UK is 13/8 LOVE, 9/4 ENABLE, 12/1 Bar which tells you all you need to know. The Group 2 Foy was the Trial for the older colts and featured the 2019 Derby winner ANTHONY VAN DYCK and the top European stayer, STRADIVARIUS. They were prominent all the way in a race which, predictably , turned into a sprint off the home turn. Barzalona rode a fine front-running race on ANTHONY VAN DYCK out-smarting Dettori on STRADIVARIUS but the two ran their Coronation Cup form from way back in June almost to the ounce. You'd have to think the Arc will be run more as a British race than a French race - with a stronger gallop - and that will help STRADIVARIUS but on this evidence all he can hope for is a place. It may just be the winner, whose limitations have been exposed since his Epsom triumph, is finally getting over those exertions and may yet be a useful older colt. I also thought NAGANO GOLD ran well given he lost ground at the start. Strangely, ANTHONY VAN DYCK became the first Derby winner since HARZAND in 2016 to win another race after Epsom which is incredible. HARZAND was ridden by Pat Smullen whose death at the incredibly young age of 43 from cancer has dominated the racing media this week.

I'd been waiting for TIGER MOTH since I backed him in the Irish Derby (which he nearly won). They put him in a Group 3 at Leopardstown (interesting, not a million miles from Flemington in configuration) and he hosed up but as a Group 1 placed horse in a Group 3 you'd expect that and SANTIAGO hated the ground at Doncaster so I'd worry if it was quick at Flemington but if it came up soft you'd have him on a short list. TIGER MOTH is much more lightly raced and you'd question how we would cope with the hustle and bustle of the big race.

Eight stand for Saturday's Mill Reef at Newbury. RHYTHM MASTER's Group 1 placed form at Deauville reads much better than the maiden FIVETHOUSANDTOONE won at Newcastle for all the latter won it easily. BAHRAIN PRIDE is unbeaten in two but both were on soft ground and on breeding he'll want at least 2000m if not further so I suspect he won't have the foot for this while RHYTHM MASTER got bogged down in the French mud last time and will be much better back on this decent ground.

Saturday was a huge day in the UK and Ireland with three Group 1 races and a number of Group 2 events. At Doncaster, the final day of the Leger meeting took place on ground which had quickened to Good, Good to Firm in places. The Champagne was the big juvenile race of the meeting for the colts over 1400m. On paper, this looked a match between ALBASHEER and CHINDIT, both of whom came into the race unbeaten but it was CHINDIT who kept his 100% record with a hard-fought victory over ALBASHEER. I just think CHINDIT, with the benefit of a second run, knew more than ALBASHEER who had won his maiden by six and a half lengths and had probably learnt much less. I'm not sure if and when the two met again, you;d have the same result. STATE OF REST came over from the Jospeh O'Brien stable and perhaps in a clue of later events ran a fine race to be a close third with the three over seven lengths clear of the remainder. It's quite possible all three are above average juveniles but on breeding all three look to be milers. The Park Stakes over 1400m was yet another strong race in a division which has looked full of quality and WICHITA benefited from having an excellent Frankie Dettori to just hold the challenge of ONE MASTER who came back to something nearer her form at this trip. MOLATHAM was a close third and he plan is for WICHITA and ONE MASTER to head for the Foret, which I still think is going to the race of Arc day. On then to the Leger at Doncaster over 2800m, the oldest and last of the British classic races. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kTf3XwA7kg For those who read my bletherings, I'll just remind you of this: Among the bigger prices I'm keen on BERKSHIRE ROCCO who was running on at York behind PYLEDRIVER and is a knocking each way bet at 33/1. Who wins the Leger? I like Group 1 form in Group 1 races and that means SANTIAGO - he is back in his own age group and is a classic winner so he'll do for me with BERKSHIRE ROCCO to sneak into the frame at a price. I have to say I really thought I was going to get a big draw from BERKSHIRE ROCCO and I also thought at one point SANTIAGO was going to win but the ground was probably quick enough for him. PYLEDRIVER just didn't quite see out the trip while HUKUM just didn't have the pace in a Group 1. Having had a £5 each way on BERKSHIRE ROCCO at 33s and £20 win on SANTIAGO on 3/1 I made some money on the race but was left to reflect on what might have been. Given the paucity of the stayers' division, I really hope they send BERKSHIRE ROCCO over 3200m next season - both he and SANTIAGO look really promising stayers. Over to Leopardstown and day one of Irish Champions Weekend which featured two Group One heats. The Matron was for the fillies and mares over 1600m. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj8KlxsXUig Another wonderful finish but it was former jockey turned trainer Johnny Murtagh who got the money with CHAMPERS ELYSSES who just ran down PEACEFUL in the final 100m. It's hard to think the winner won a handicap off 86 back in June and was winning this off 110 defeating multiple Group 1 winners in PEACEFUL and FANCY BLUE who once again ran very close. As I suspected, it all happened too quick for FANCY BLUE over 400m shorter on a sharp track - PEACEFUL came to win her race and was mugged in the final 150m. KNOW IT ALL was a close fourth and ALBIGNA was fifth so this was a strong renewal. On then to the Irish Champion Stakes, arguably the top race of the Irish Flat season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW_ZAz1eGeQ Another wonderful race and a change in tactics by Ballydoyle brought about the downfall of GHAIYYATH. In truth, the front two were there every step of the way and Seamie Heffernan was always there giving William Buick no peace on the favourite. MAGICAL is a superstar - take out ENABLE and we'd be hailing her as one of the best fillies of recent times. True, she was slightly below par at York but Leopardstown has always been a venue she has enjoyed whereas Longchamp has never worked. In truth, she's a 2000m filly albeit off a strong gallop and I'd love to see her in a Cox Plate. GHAIYYATH ran another fine race in defeat - perhaps it was quick enough after York but he's had a wonderful season. ARMORY and SOTTSASS were third and fourth while JAPAN disappointed once again over a trip I think short of his best especially on a sharp track. I know Ryan Moore thinks the world of the horse and though he's 33/1 for the Arc I just think he's capable of running a real race back up in trip. Elsewhere on the card, CADILLAC shot to the top of the 2000 Guineas market with an impressive performance in the Group 2 Champions Juvenile over 1600m. Clearly, the soft ground didn't help last time but on a sound surface he's proved himself a real talent. Finally, my old mate SAFE VOYAGE did me another nice turn when winning the Boomerang albeit by a short head from SINAWANN who ran a huge race in defeat. SAFE VOYAGE will probably go for the Queen Elizabeth at Ascot on Champions Day and we know he goes on slow turf. In ordinary years, the Foret would be the option but that looks a red-hot race this year.

Time to review the Doncaster action from last Friday with the ground drying all the time but a windy day with quite a headwind up the long home straight. The two Group 2 races were hugely contrasting - the Flying Childers for the juveniles over 1000m and the Doncaster Cup for the stayers over 3600m. The Flying Childers saw Lowther runner up SACRED go off favourite but it didn't quite go according to plan as she got caught on the wrong side of the track and couldn't quite get to UBETTERBELIEVEIT who provided a right boilover at 40/1. This was a first Group 2 for trainer and jockey and the horse had over-raced when trailing home last in the Gimcrack and clearly the 1000m suits well. SACRED did nothing wrong in defeat and back among her own gender she'll be very hard to beat. FRENETIC was disappointing - she broke well but simply didn't get home in the final 200m. The Doncaster Cup was a poor renewal but SPANISH MISSION was a convincing winner dishing out the same beating to SELINO he had at Chester in Listed company. It's fair to see with STRADIVARIUS retiring at the end of the season, the staying division looks incredibly weak and while one of the 3-y-o might emerge as the "new kid on the block", SPANISH MISSION and NAYEF ROAD look the best of a weak older group. THE GRAND VISIR is a one-paced plodder but kept on for third and I suspect may next be seen in the Cesarewitch over 4000m at Newmarket. It was all too much for the handicapper REVOLVER but next year he may be up to this.

Plenty to catch up from last weekend and I will get to it and it's just as well the coming weekend is going to be MUCH quieter. The feature on Saturday at Newbury is the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes (named after the 1971 Derby and Arc winner). 12 have been entered - RHYTHM MASTER's third in the Morny looks the best bit of form on offer. The ground is Good and should quicken up with a dry week forecast. We have a huge handicap - the Ayr Gold Cup which has spawned two consolation races - the Silver Cup and the Bronze Cup - rumours of a Paper Cup as the fourth consolation prize have been discounted. Sunday sees the start of the 7-day Harvest Festival meeting at Listowel, a wallet-draining, liver-busting occasion by all accounts and though there's not a Group race to be seen, some decent horses have started their careers there and it's a meeting where Aidan O'Brien often introduces a nice one. Nothing much happening in France either.

Plenty of time to pick the bones out of the weekend just gone so a bit further back to start the review. Day Two of the Leger meeting took place on ground that was basically perfect and under sunny skies - the problem was we were back behind closed doors and Doncaster's Owners were looking at a £250,000 loss. After an ordinary opening day, Thursday saw two Group 2 races for the fillies. The May Hill for the juveniles over 1600m saw a taking performance from INDIGO GIRL who came away in the final 200m despite looking very green and wandering to the left. I imagine the plan will be the Fillies' Mile but while she was getting some quotes for the Guineas and Oaks, the former may be too sharp and I would need convincing she would deal with the unique contours of Epsom. That said, she's an exciting prospect. The Park Hill over 2800m saw a successful smash-and-grab raid by the Irish as Joseph O'Brien's PISTA came with a late run to defy VIVIONN and favourite BELIEVE IN LOVE. PISTA is a daughter of American triple crown winner American Pharoah and this was the stallion's biggest win in the U.K to date. Physically, she looked a lovely stamp of a filly and while her future as a broodmare is assured, the plan is to go for the French equivalent race, the Royallieu, in three weeks. I'm not sure this was the strongest Park Hill ever in all honesty but the winner looks decent. I wouldn't normally mention a two-runner Class 2 Conditions race but it saw the return of last year's Leger winner, LOGICIAN. I must admit I thought he would be a big player in all the top 2400m races but unfortunately an attack of peritonitis left him close to death on two occasions so it's a triumph of veterinary and training that he is back on the course at all. He looked like a bull to be honest and there's plenty on which to be worked but he did it nicely having a decent gallop round and winning easily as you would expect. Trainer John Gosden was understandably non-committal after the race and is just hoping the horse takes well to the race over the next 7-10 days. I suspect big targets like the Arc or the Breeders Cup Turf will be off the agenda this year but he could be a real force next year and will become Gosden's stand bearer as both ENABLE and STRADIVARIUS are retired. He looks a potential top notch 2400m horse.

PORT GUILLAUME goes in the Grand Prix de Paris on Sunday against the English Derby winner SERPENTINE. I think he's the one in this field - the Hocquart win was impressive. Any thoughts on the Irish Leger field? TWILIGHT PAYMENT is favourite but I half fancy the 2019 winner SEARCH FOR A STAR who looked to be coming back to form last time.

Got 7/2 about INDIGO GIRL for £20 win which was very pleasing. She's a nice prospect but I see her as an Oaks type more than a Guineas type - perhaps a 2021 Arc contender?

If you think Saturday is huge, Sunday is going to be huger (if that's a word). The second day of the Irish Champions Weekend and Arc Trials Day mean six Group 1 races on a stellar afternoon at The Curragh and Longchamp respectively. Kicking off in Ireland with what is effectively the climax of the Irish Flat Racing season at The Curragh with four Group 1 races but these are preceded by the Group 2 Blandford for the fillies and mares over 2000m. MAGIC WAND has mixed it with the very best including running fourth in the Eclipse and fifth in the Nassau at Goodwood. On her last run in Group 2 company she romped home by four and a half lengths in the Lanwades over 1600m. Back at Group 2 and with no boys present, she must have a huge chance. CAYENNE PEPPER was second in the Irish Oaks but was beaten in a Group 3 at Cork last time so I'm not sure. While MAGIC WAND is a fine older filly, ONE VOICE is the answer from the classic generation. She finished in front of MAGIC WAND in the Nassau and was seven lengths behind LOVE in the Yorkshire Oaks. That's not bad form and the drop back in trip will suit so she is my selection. The Group 1 Championship races kick off with the Flying Five over 1000m. I think this is a sub-standard Group 1 in all honesty. GLASS SLIPPERS won the Abbaye last year and has twice run behind the mighty BATTAASH and on a line through that star holds A'ALI but not by much. A'ALI was fourth in the Nunthorpe but QUE AMORO was second and if that form is accurate, should take all the beating in this. MAKE A CHALLENGE is probably the best of the locals but was beaten by A'ALI back in July and hasn't mixed it at the very highest level unlike some of these. I quite like A'ALI back on a course where he has scored before, but GLASS SLIPPERS is coming to a peak nicely (the Abbaye the intended target I would imagine). The first of the two juvenile championship races is the Moyglare over 1400m for the fillies. PRETTY GORGEOUS beat SHALE in the Debutante last time and I see no reason why it should be any different this time. The once-raced AUNTY BRIDY is possible but this looks a modest renewal. The colts go in the National and this looks a fascinating race with Phoenix winner LUCKY VEGA moving up 200m and taking on the likes of BATTLEGROUND and MASTER OF THE SEAS coming over to represent Godolphin from the Charlie Appleby stable. These three dominate the race and are possibly the three bet juvenile colts seen out so far. LUCKY VEGA did it really well over 1200m last time and you wouldn’t have any doubt about the extra 200m. In time, I suspect, the other two may go over further but I was very taken with MASTER OF THE SEAS at Newmarket in the Superlative and he has an obvious chance. BATTLEGROUND won the Chesham at Ascot and followed up in the Vintage at Goodwood. I come back to Group 1 form in a Group 1 race and for that reason I’ll go with LUCKY VEGA but it’s not an easy call. Finally, the Irish St Leger over 2800m. TWILIGHT PAYMENT had former Irish Derby winner SOVEREIGN in third when winning the Vintage Crop (BARBADOS second) and then won the Group 2 Curragh Cup by eight lengths. He’s 40/1 for the Melbourne Cup and a win here will help get him a run at Flemington. FUJAIRA PRINCE won a big 2400m handicap at Royal Ascot and followed up in the ultra-competitive Ebor. This is a logical step and he makes plenty of appeal for all this is a better race in terms of quality. SEARCH FOR A SONG won this last year and showed signs of a return to form behind MAGICAL last time. She’s no back number and might be the each way bet of the race at 8/1. Meanwhile, at Longchamp it’s Arc Trials day which this year has the added spice of the Grand Prix de Paris which is normally held in mid-July but has been rescheduled this year to be the 3-y-o trial instead of the Niel. The Foy remains the 2400m trial for the older colts. Only six run, but it’s a class field. WAY TO PARIS beat NAGANO GOLD in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud and there won’t be much between them but into the mix comes a former English Derby winner in ANTHONY VAN DYCK and the triple Ascot Gold Cup winner STRADIVARIUS. Both were behind GHAIYYATH in the Coronation Cup earlier in the season but that was no disgrace, and both come here with real claims against the locals. My only thought is whether the French racing style will suit either horse particularly STRADIVARIUS who would be more effective over 4000m than 2400m. The two Group 1 races are also over 2400m and as said the Grand Prix de Paris is effectively the Arc trial for the 3-y-o colts and sees the long-awaited return of English Derby winner SERPENTINE. Debate has raged all summer as to whether his Epsom win was real or a fluke but there’s no doubt, he was given a superb ride, handled the undulations well and was clearly best on the day. On Epsom form he has nothing to fear from HIGHLAND CHIEF, MOGUL and ENGLISH KING, all of whom were held in the Gordon at Goodwood. The main local challenge is PORT GUILLAUME, who I believe has been sold to Australian interests. The 2000m of the Jockey Club was too sharp and he looked much better in the Hocquart, which is decent form. If SERPENTINE is the real deal, 7/4 is free money but I need to be convinced and would rather be on PORT GUILLAUME. The Vermeille is the Group 1 Arc Trial for the fillies and given we have ENABLE and LOVE in the Arc line-up, it’ll take a good one to crash the party but there’s a view in France RAABIHAH is something special. Ten go to post with four older fillies taking on six from the classic generation. RAABIHAH was beaten half a length when fourth in a bunch finish for the Diane and followed up well at Deauville but EVEN SO did nothing wrong winning the Irish Oaks and on a line through CAYENNE PEPPER, there’s little between her and TARNAWA while English raider DAME MAILLOT was a close third in the Preis von Europa last time and that gives her an each way chance. Speaking of the Preis von Europa, the winner, DONJAN, heads the market for the principal German trial for the Arc, the Grosser Preis von Baden. He didn’t have much to spare over KASPAR with BARNEY ROY fourth. The one that catches my eye is the German Derby runner up TORQUATOR TASSO who was a big price that day but ran a blinder on only his second outing and has huge scope for improvement.

Huge day on Saturday with significant races in both the UK and Ireland. At Doncaster it's Leger day - the ground has dried to Good, Good to Soft in places and might be near perfect by Saturday. Before the classic there are two Group 2 races - the Champagne for the juvenile colts over 1400m is a race with a rich history. ALBASHEER won on debut in a maiden over course and distance by six and a half lengths. It was visually hugely impressive and while the obvious question is whether he beat trees, the fact remains he could be anything. CHINDIT has on both his starts and won a Listed at Ascot last time. His form is better than ALBASHEER's but the latter could be a superstar. The Park Stakes is also a Group 2 over 1400m but it's for the older horses and this division is, as we know, full of talent this year. Eight go but it's another strong field. ONE MASTER is a Foret winner but this year's renewal is going to be red-hot and she's now looking like a 1600m filly. LIMATO is now eight and won this way back in 2015. He's mixed it with some very good horses and returned with a nice win at Newmarket. I think he would want even quicker ground and I'm more interested in WICHITA who was second in the 2000 Guineas and third in the St James's Palace, True, he was well held in the Sussex and I can excuse his run in the Maurice de Gheest on the ground. I think this is a real opportunity and they've brought him here rather than go for a race in Ireland. Twelve go in the St Leger over 2800m and it's a trappy race. PYLEDRIVER did me a huge favour at York and could well be the one while SANTIAGO has to bounce back after a moderate effort in the Goodwood Cup but he won the Irish Derby and the Queen's Vase so back among his age group he has real claims. ENGLISH KING won the Lingfield Derby Trial and was favourite for the Derby. He wasn't the only one who had a miserable experience but looked below par at Goodwood in the Gordon and has questions to answer. HUKUM came into prominence with an impressive win at Newbury last time. He's lightly raced and has obvious claims. GALILEO CHROME represents Joseph O'Brien and won his last two by wide margins but this is Group 1 not Listed and he has it to do. Among the bigger prices I'm keen on BERKSHIRE ROCCO who was running on at York behind PYLEDRIVER and is a knocking each way bet at 33/1. Who wins the Leger? I like Group 1 form in Group 1 races and that means SANTIAGO - he is back in his own age group and is a classic winner so he'll do for me with BERKSHIRE ROCCO to sneak into the frame at a price. In Ireland, it's day one of Champions Weekend which takes place at Leopardstown where the ground is currently Good. Eleven go in the Group 1 Matron for the fillies and mares over 1600m. PEACEFUL and FANCY BLUE were first and second in the Irish 1000 Guineas back in mid June but the latter has gone on to win the Diane and the Nassau at Goodwood but these are both over 2000m and I just wonder if that may be her trip. PEACEFUL was a neck behind her in the Diane and I think back at this trip she will come out on top. ALBIGNA is held on Irish Guineas form but KNOW IT ALL could be the one. She was a fine third in the Rothschild at Deauville mixing it with some decent older fillies. I think the sharp track will suit and she's my choice. The Juvenile Colts race is a Group 2 over 1600m. Not quite sure what to make of this - CADILLAC was hugely impressive on debut but was beaten on soft ground at The Curragh in the Futurity and it has to be hoped the sharper track and quicker ground will help. FERNANDO VICHI was a clear maiden winner over course and distance last time but his jockey cannot claim his allowance. The one that interests me is IDES OF AUGUST who has been absent since a debut win over 1400m at Leopardstown in June. I suspect he's been kept for this and Ger Lyons can produce the horses cherry ripe after a break. Just six go in the Irish Champion Stakes, a Group 1 over 2000m. This is often one of the best races of the year and it's got another stellar line up. GHAIYYATH has won three Group 1 races in England - the Coronation Cup, the Eclipse and the Juddmonte International last time. A sharp 2000m will be fine and he has every chance. JAPAN was a shade disappointing behind ENABLE in the King George and I'm not convinced this is his trip. MAGICAL is a wonderful mare as we know but she was well held by GHAIYYATH at York last time and I don't see why she should reverse the places. SOTTSASS is the French raider and adds hugely to the race. He won the Jockey Club last year beating PERSIAN KING (and that looks serious form now)and ended up with a third in the Arc which was a great run. He looked really good in the Ganay but wasn't so effective on the heavy at Deauville last time. I remember Almanzor winning this race when it was the race of the season and SOTTSASS is going to go close if he can lay up with GHAIYYATH and pounce late but the latter brings the best form to the race and should win. Ten go in the Group 2 Boomerang Mile - SAFE VOYAGE was a nice winner at York and I take him to beat CENTURY DREAM who relished the soft conditions at Goodwood last time. SAFE VOYAGE was third in the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot so a sharp 1600m should be ideal.