Channel 4 have clearly gone into Jumps mode as they are not showing this afternoonâs titanic showdown between Bronze Angel and French Navy at Newmarket! So flat fans will have to make do with the second-rate card over at Santa Anita this evening... In the Breedersâ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, last yearâs winner Dank has to overcome a 136-day layoff since Royal Ascot, which is something of a concern but she won last year when fresh so it is not impossible for her to bow out with victory. Charlie Hillsâ Just The Judge finished behind Stephanieâs Kitten (second) in the Beverley D. Stakes but Chad Brownâs mare should have won there and will repel the European raiders here. The Breedersâ Cup Sprint (Turf) looks wide open and Frankie Dettori is on Wesley Wardâs No Nay Never, who is well drawn but (like many of the field) the downhill course is a complete unknown. Last yearâs dead-heat runners-up Tightend Touchdown and Reneesgotzip look to have been laid out for this but neither has been done any favours by the draw. Ambitious Brew is similarly disadvantaged by the draw but his exceptional course record (three wins and a second) make him the one tonight at an each-way price. The big event from a European point of view is the Breedersâ Cup Turf. Quirky Main Sequence has done well since transferring Stateside but there are several raiders better than him here. Sir Michael Stoute has an excellent record in this but Telescope has not raced since York in August and the best bet of the evening is the Arc runner-up Flintshire on the fast ground that he rarely found back home. On the ratings, the Breedersâ Cup Mile should go to Toronado as he is the best horse in the race; however, the big question mark is the tight track, for a horse who tends to take time to get going. They may have gone before he arrives unless there is a change of tactics planned. Poulains winner Karakontie has been done no favours by the draw but can he find the form that he showed in the spring to land this? This may be a race just to watch. In the Breedersâ Cup Classic it is hard to look beyond the unbeaten Shared Belief, who I expect to confirm latest form with Toast Of New York as the latter has never run on dirt. 19:43 Stephanieâs Kitten 5/1 21:05 Ambitious Brew 16/1 22:22 Flintshire 3/1 (best bet) 23:40 Karakontie 12/1 00:35 Shared Belief 2/1
Top weighted claret cloak should have blew away the cobwebs and the drop back in trip should help in the 4th
My original pick was Road to Riches but I'm now coming round to thinking that Mullins will have Boston Bob revved up enough to take this...That's a quarter of the 8 runner field covered now
I think a few of them will need this and am trusting Mr Nicholls has got Rocky Creek spot on. Win bet 9/2
