The Arc has been discussed to death and there are other interesting races on the French card. One I have been trying to get to the bottom of is the Prix de L'Abbaye which is a very tricksy looking 4.75 furlong dash. A lot of the entries have been meeting and beating (sometimes) each other all season long. Mayson is the nominal favourite and rightly so as strictly on the latest form, he has the beating of most of these. I would put Ortensia in here with a great shout, yet on July Cup running Mayson has her legs. Spirit Quartz, second favourite..? Beaten comfortably by Mayson at Newmarket in the Palace House Stakes, 5F gd/sft. Last years 1st, 2nd, 3rd and fifth all reoppose, the 2011 winner Tangerine Trees has run moderately in all his races since,as has the runner up, Secret Asset. The 3rd, Sole Power, could be considered unlucky last year having been hampered in his run before finishing well, and he has also had a reasonably successful season, several places before finally getting his head in front LTO. I feel however the ground may well be against him this time. I'm going to select therefore the favourite, although I also have a doubt about him! The problem with Mayson, for me, is this .. he definitely handles the going as shown at Newmarket, but slow as the going may be, can he be up with the pace from the start, as I feel he'll need to be? We'll find out soon! Purr Along and Olympic Glory won't make your fortunes in the following 2 races but I like the chance of Pirika in the 2-40. He (and Yellow and Green) finished fast behind Shareta last time out and although he wouldn't have won that day, for me that run gives him a great ew shot at a current 10-1. In the 4-55 Prix De La Foret, I think AOB has the taking of this with Starspangledbanner, who showed a glimmer of his real form at the Curragh last month. Good luck to all
12.55 Wizz Kid 8/1 1.30 Peace Burg 7/2 NAP 2.05 What A Name 7/2 2.40 Giofra 9/2 3.25 Orfevre 5/1 (on at 16s) 4.55 Blue Soave 9/1 NB
I have oohed, arred and thought about the race a lot over the last 4 or 5 weeks. A lot has changed- the top 4 year olds are out of the race but the soft ground has left question marks over the new market leaders. If tje ground is as is anticipated, then I think we will see the draw factor overcome in the form of SEA MOON. Aiden O'Brien will put so much pace into this race that it will fall into the hands of horses who stay a trip, which includes Camelot and St Nicholas Abbey. However, Sea Moon has always been a soft ground horse and he has stamina for a trip and hence off a strong gallop can be a massie danger in the Arc rehardless of his stall position. The ground does not help Camelot, Saonias, or possibly rfevre, and we can see the prize rest in Ireland or U this time.
Stay off the drink big man There is already a thread and your selection is painfully outclassed There are 4 or 5 horses you havent mentioned who will be far more inconvenienced by the ground than Orfevre, and the horse who won the Japanese Leger over 1m7f in a time 2 seconds faster than Deep Impact and .1 off the track record will not want for stamina
Went to door for a smoke and there was the biggest, brightest star ive ever seen in my life. Starting to fear Great Heavens now for reasons that defy logic
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TopClass: Know exactly how you feel. Took me more than a day to recover from Tuesday's 'epic' at the Bierfest here. Been twice since, but will sheepishly admit to sticking with sissy drinks. Woe is me. There's no cure, but a really tough non-alcoholic Bloody Mary really does help. Lots of Worcestershire Sauce and Tabasco in the tomato juice, and bob's your uncle! Helps me a lot.
13 hours of pork smell from the oven will cure all. That is my excuse anyway. Another good day for Mr J Ferguson and his novices?
I have had some early bets on other races at Longchamp: 2.05 - What a Name 2.45 - Giofra 4.55 - Blue Soave 5.30 - Nikita du Berlais
One hurdler I like today is in the Prix Du Cadran !!!! Nikita Du Berlais has met defeat just twice in 10 races at Auteuil - in a listed hurdle for unraced fillies (2L third) and a 4L second to the wonderful Thousand Stars in a Grade 1 in June. She took a Grade 3 hurdle in September en route to this race and has done all her winning on very soft or heavy, at distances between 15 and 20 furlongs.
I've been looking at the big race of the day today, and I'm left with two questions: 1) Why is Thousand Stars as long as 10/3? 2) Why is Ruby not riding him? All said and done though, I fancy the chances of Thousand Stars. And apparently there's some flat racing on today, in which I like Starspangledbanner, Giofra and Sea Moon. Haven't actually backed any of them though - this flat racing (/early season jumps) is a watching game.
Not a betting proposition, but it will nevertheless be interesting to see how Charlie Longsdon's Up To Something goes in the 3.15 at Uttoxeter. He won 3 bumpers last term, including a Class 2 at Newbury where he beat Nicky Henderson's My Tent Or Yours, probably that yard's best bumper horse from last season. Could be a very decent novice.
14-1 does feel big. Ladbrokes (with their supposed Coolmore connection) are shortest price at 10s. The same firm is top price about Camelot.
Can't see Camelot figuring. I don't think his form holds up to close scrutiny. I wouldn't play but gun to head....Sea Moon.
At the match so will miss the Arc. Got SNA at 10s (Antepost awful bet) Ernest Hemingway at 100/1 E.W Camelot at 4/1 GO TEAM BALLYDOYLE !!!! Best of luck all
Such a strange race today. Soft ground and multiple pacemakers is what has made me back Sea Moon because he will absolutely need the stamina drawn out of him. Will have to have a bit of luck passing horses though. Still think Camelot might go okay on the ground regardless of the talk- would Coolmore really run him if it was so much of a hindrance? Reminds me of Workforce- a lot of abuse for his King George defeat and then given the chance in the Arc. Maybe Born To Sea just ran a great race that day in the Irish Derby (the only time he settled all season) Camelot was never asked for a lot from JO'B that day either and they were well clear.
