As it a big day thought I would share the trainer jockey comments posted in the club for today Ryan moore Ryan heads across the Channel on Sunday for the prestigious Arc De Triomphe, riding Aidan OBriens Tapestry. Heres the Betfair Ambassadors exclusive take on his chances, as well as an in-depth guide to every single runner in the race... The first thing to say about this years Arc (Longchamp, Sunday 15:30) is it is one of the most open that I can remember. I genuinely went through the field and came up with a shortlist of 10, maybe more, and even then it wouldnt be the greatest shock in the world if the winner wasnt among them. Having ridden there a fair bit, I know the Japanese horses pretty well and I think the most talented horse in the race is undoubtedlyJust A Way. But if I could pick any of the field to ride, it would probably be Harp Star. This race is not straightforward at all though, for many reasons, so we will depart from the norm and give you my summary of each horse in racecard order. Flintshire I was very surprised to hear this horse is a 25/1 chance on Betfair. I wouldnt read too much into the Arc trials for the simple reason that they sometimes can be a complete joke, especially as not many seem to be that bothered about winning them. It is all about the big day for the French. Flintshire, who won the Grand Prix de Paris here last season before finding the ground too soft in last years Arc, did run a very promising race in the Foy though, and that would have teed him up nicely for his. Ruler Of The World The first thing to say about his win in the Foy last time is that he was pretty much handed the race on a plate. But that is where the negatives end, as that represented a welcome return to form after a lengthy break since his run in the Dubai World Cup. I obviously know the horse very well, having won the Derby on him, and I think that I would have finished placed on him in this race last year had he not got flattened turning for home. Al Kazeem One of the few that I would be surprised if he was up to winning this. Form-wise he can on his 2013 best and he didnt run badly when sixth in this race last year, but his efforts this season give him a stone and more to find. Ivanhowe He was one of my possible rides at one point. He is a strong-travelling horse who has to be respected after his clear-cut win in Baden-Baden last time, a route that Danedream took when winning this race three years ago, but clearly being drawn 19 isnt great. Spiritjim Didnt get the run of the race when third in the Foy last time and had previously showed himself an improving and consistent 4yo. But his overall level of form leaves him with a fair bit to find in this company and he would be a surprising winner. Gold Ship A very talented horse who I rode to finish third in the Arima Kinen last year. Wouldnt be far off the best in Japan on his day and he did well to run Harp Star to three-quarters of a length over 1m2f last time, considering that this 1m4f would be more his trip. Although he clearly has form on fast tracks in Japan, I just wonder whether he would like a little bit more juice than he is likely to get here. But he stays well, and he has the ability to win this alright. Just A Way Is the most talented horse in the race judged on his Dubai Duty Free win, and not forgetting his four-length defeat of Gentildonna either, when he was actually giving that horse 5lb as well. That sets the clear form standard in here. But the problem with him is the trip; to me, I dont think there is much doubt that 1m2f is his optimum distance, but he is a Hearts Cry, I suppose. If he stays, then he is a big runner. Treve Was an exceptional winner of this race last season but, to me, she hasnt been striding out at all in her last two races. It could be that the massive performance she put up first time out against Cirrus Des Aigles bottomed her, and she has yet to get over it. She ran respectably enough in a poor Vermeille last time, and she is obviously a huge threat to all if back to her best, but I have my doubts about her physically. Chicquita Very talented, Classic-winning filly but she will have to step forward a lot on her second to Tarfasha in the Blandford Stakes last time, though she is entitled to, and 1m4f on fast ground are her conditions. I cant see it personally, though. Siljans Saga May be a Group 2 winner, but has no chance, so lets move on. Ectot He may be the second favourite but if I was Gregory Benoist and had the choice, then I would probably have chosen Avenir Certainover him. Now, if there is any one horse in the race to improve past the form horses, it is probably Ectot as he travelled like a real good one and did everything so easily in the Niel for most of the race. But I do think that he was stopping there, for whatever reason - it may have been fitness, or that he was idling - and what I am pretty certain about is that I would have won if I had got a run on Adelaide sooner. And Adelaide isnt here. Could be a 1m2f horse, but he is another who you cant dismiss as he is a big potential improver. Montviron I assume that he is a pacemaker. Prince Gibraltar Now, this horse still interests me. He was well below par on soft ground last time, but he was the one that they were all talking up after his Greffulhe win in May and he didnt get the run of the race on his next two starts. Has to improve here but I can certainly see him outrunning odds of 33/1-plus. Kingston Hill You cant argue with the manner of his Leger win or the merit of his second to Australia in the Derby. But this is a clear step-up from Doncaster and I just wonder whether the quick, downhill stretch at Longchamp will be ideal for him. And being drawn 20 certainly isnt. Free Port Lux Beat Adelaide in the Hocquart here back in May and has been running well since, but I cant see him having the class in this company. Avenir Certain This filly really interests me. I have the greatest of respect for the Japanese horses, but it is an away game for them - and that is always a concern - and this filly was tremendously impressive when winning over 1m2f at Deauville last time. The trip is the obvious concern for her, not least because on her breeding you would say that she is a miler at most, but she got all of the 1m2f in testing ground last time. If she stays, then she is a real contender. This strong traveller is well drawn in one. Dolniya I dont rate the Vermeille form, so I cant get too excited by her chances. Taghrooda She wouldnt be my idea of the favourite, and I just wonder whether people are getting carried away by the recent performances of three-year-old fillies in this race. Of course, she has a leading chance, and if the fact that she was in season affected her performance in the Yorkshire Oaks last time then she is some horse. But her Oaks form didnt really work out, her King George win doesnt look as good as it did at the time and being drawn 15 is not ideal. I dont make her the likeliest winner for all that you have to respect her. Harp Star If I had the choice to ride any horse in here, it would probably be Harp Star. She probably should be coming into this unbeaten, and she is clearly a very talented filly with a change of pace. But I dont think you can overplay how hard it is for jockeys to ride in this race, let alone foreign riders with very little or no race-riding experience of the track. And there will be 20 runners in this. If things go her way - and everyone needs several slices of luck in this - then she is definitely capable of winning, as I have seen at first hand from my riding stint in Japan last season. And finally, to my ride, Tapestry If you fancy Taghrooda, then I think that you have to fancy Tapestry at the prices. Taghrooda may have had an excuse that she was in season at York but, whichever way you cut it, my filly ran a great race there. The third horse, Tasaday, was seven lengths away in third and she ran a good second to Hillstar at Newbury subsequently. The step back to 1m didnt work out in the Matron Stakes last time, but we know that 1m4f on fast ground are her conditions and I am happy being drawn eight. I give her an each-way chance but this race will take some winning, as you may have gathered. William buick There are probably two flat races in Europe that a jockey wants to be involved in, one is the Derby and the other, without a shadow of doubt is the Arc. But until Tuesday afternoon I looked like having to watch the race on the Longchamp changing room TV then I got the call up from Jean-Pierre Carvalho to partner the German runnerIVANHOWE (3.30). In what is a wide-open year it would be good to get any ride but to get one with the credentials of Ivanhowe is a real result. I honestly believe that as a jockey you could have five choices of ride in the race and get it wrong, thats how open it is and I dont see any negatives to my mount, apart from one - the draw. Weve drawn the wide stall in 19 and thats not ideal but well just have to deal with it and take out the positives and that is that we shouldnt get knocked about in what is one of the roughest races on the circuit. The biggest plus for Ivanhowe is his most recent piece of form which puts him up as a serious contender because at Baden-Baden he beat many peoples idea of the Arc winner, Sea The Moon by an impressive three lengths. Ok, the second might not have quite been at his best and he has been subsequently retired but Ivanhowe powered home with the rest of the field well beaten off. Make no mistake, these German horses are very tough and know how to battle and it was his first run since June so I would expect plenty of improvement. Although hes won of soft earlier in his career all his best form at three and four has been on genuine good ground and with a sunny weekend forecast for Paris, thats what hes going to get. Putting my head above the parapets, if I had the pick of the opposition it would have to be Taghrooda whos trained by the boss, John Gosden, for Sheikh Hamdan so will be ridden by Paul Hanagan. She wasnt herself when she was beaten last time out in the Yorkshire Oaks and before that she was impressive winning the King George. She produced some quality work last week which proved shes back to her best and the ground should be perfect. Shes not as badly drawn as Ivanhowe but 15 still isnt great although she should be able to slot in after a furlong or so. The one all of us have to be concerned about is the Japanese runner Just A Way - providing he stays and that is a very big question. All his winning has been done between a mile and ten furlongs and the only times hes gone outside that comfort zone hes been beaten. Any unbeaten horse warrants respect so Avenir Certain comes in to the mix although shes trying 12 furlongs for the first time and this is some race to find out about stamina! Its not ideal. Ectot is unbeaten in all races bar his debut as a two-year-old and he took the jump up from a mile to 12 furlongs winning last time in a Group 2 in the middle of last month and it is significant that he is chosen over Avenir Certain by Gregory Benoist. The other British runner, Kingston Hill, has done worst of all with the draw being in 20 but despite winning the Leger I dont think hes a slow horse by any means although Im sure hed be much more effective if we had the customary softer ground. But Im more than happy with Ivanhowe and Ill be very disappointed his name isnt being called with a furlong to run. REST OF SUNDAYS LONGCHAMP MOUNTS Ive got two other decent tides on the card and the first of them is AKTABANTAY (2.10) for Hugo Palmer in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere over seven. On the face of it hes got a bit to find and this will be only the second time Ive ridden him but hes got a couple of points in his favour even though the draw is still wideR than ideal in eight. In a field of ten that shouldnt be a serious issue and last time out when winning the Solario at Sandown he proved he stays seven furlongs extremely well. The other thing is that he really had to battle that day and he never once looked like shirking it and it was his fifth run of the season. Believe me, unless a horse has massive talent there is no substitute for being street-wise and battle hardened when you get into this grade. Hell like the ground, Hugo has his team in great order so well go into this with plenty of positives. Ive got one for Clarehaven and a real chance of hitting the winners enclosure withSULTANINA (2.45). I didnt ride her in France last time when she was beaten less than two lengths in the Vermeille and before that her profile was very much upward. I dont know what it is with me and the French draw-makers but once again Im in the picnic park with stall ten but thankfully there are only 12 starters. She will love the decent ground and this doesnt look by any means an impossible race to win. The boss has her in great order and Im anticipating a top class performance. Richard fahey We’ve declared Garswood for the Qatar Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Sunday in the hope they get some rain. At the time of writing it’s impossible to know what the ground is going to be but Gerald Mosse, who won the Prix Maurice de Gheest on my horse and who will ride again on Sunday, said it was on the easy side of good when he rode work there on Wednesday. This will be Garswood’s final race before heading off to stud and he’s been a pleasure to train. It took us a while to work out exactly where he wants to be but six-and-a-half or seven furlongs with some cut in the ground have brought the best out of him. He’s been very laidback and always shown a huge amount of ability at home. I’m pleased it came out on the racecourse too. Richard hannon BOOKMAKERS have Olympic Glory as favourite for Sundays Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, and Richard Hannon was certainly not negative when I spoke to him about the colts chance of another Group 1 celebration. He said:Olympic Glory gets a mile well, but, ironically, he has never been beaten in four races over this seven furlongs, and we have had this race in mind since he finished third to Kingman in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August. He has had a nice break since and Frankie (Dettori) is pleased with the feel he is getting on the gallops, so we have to be hopeful. Any rain would be a plus, but the ground was fast enough when he won the Lockinge, and, in any event, Longchamp is usually well watered. We also run Burnt Sugar in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. The owners were keen to have a go, having been encouraged to do so by Gerald Mosse after he rode the colt to victory in the Sirenia Stakes at Kempton last time. He now steps up in distance, but he won going away that day so we have to be optimistic that he will stay. Godolphin Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin said: Territories is tough and battle-hardened but he needs to step on his previous form. It would be an excellent result if he were to finish in the first five. Territories opposes nine rivals including Full Mast and Nucifera plus unbeaten Group One Darley Prix Morny winner The Wow Signal and Group One Goffs Vincent OBrien National Stakes victor Gleneagles. Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin commented: This is a big step up for Pink Rose but she is better than the bare form of her last race suggests. We are hopeful of a very good run but she will have to find a bit to make the frame. Pink Rose, ridden by Mickael Barzalona again, faces 11 other two-year-old fillies including Found and Ervedya, who have both finished third in Group One races, plus Group Three scorers Jack Naylor, Malabar and Shahah. Saeed bin Suroor said: Shuruq won a couple of nice races on Tapeta in Meydan and I was very pleased with her victory on turf in Turkey. She is racing on dirt now but she worked very well on the surface earlier this week and I hope that she can run to a similar level of form. Nine furlongs is a good distance and she is ready to go. Shuruq takes on five other fillies and mares headed by five-time Grade One heroine Close Hatches, who is unbeaten in four starts this year, plus Grade Two scorers Dont Tell Sophia and Molly Morgan. Wullie mullins Tipperary We have two runners in the 2m 4f novice chase. Indevan (Ruby) won over this course and distance in July and followed up over the same tripat Killarney last time. This is a hot contest but our fellow will like theforecast ground and hopefully he will go close for Ruby on his first rideback after injury. Rough Justice (Paul) has won over this trip and will prefer this left-handed track to Ballinrobe where he was second last time. Hetoo will like the ground if it remains good. Valerian Bridge (Patrick) goesfor the winners’ bumper. He won on his debut at Cork where the ground wasfast and he will be suited by this track. He is in good form and hopefullythe ground won’t get too soft. Alan king Alan is looking for a good run on Sunday from Fighter Jet, who tries to go one better from Plumpton when he runs in the three-mile handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter, and alsoGimme Five, who has shown himself to be a solid juvenile hurdler and, despite his penalty, should run well at Huntingdon, where we also have Say When going in the opener. Nick alexander Both of our runners won twice at the track last season and have had these races penciled in for their seasonal reappearance for some time and they seem very well, though the dry weather has meant they have not had their usual fast work on the grass to sharpen them up; we start with Landecker in the 3.55, Lucy rides and 6 run. Although he won over 2 miles in the spring he is stepping up in trip to 2m 6f which I have always imagined will be to his benefit, we will hopefully find out on Sunday. Jet Master – an 8lb rise for this narrow win looks harsh Then Jet Master runs in the 4.25, Lucy on board and 6 runners, he has risen sharply in the weights for his narrow win in April so it will be interesting to see if he can live up to it. One of our more senior owners, Lord Cochrane, has been unable to come to the yard for a while so this morning we took his family’s three horses over to see him at Cults near Cupar, he is pictured below with 11 time winner Or de Grugy along with Toni who has looked after him for the last 8 years (Or de Grugy that is, not Lord Cochrane!), also there was the promising Another Mattie owned by his son Tom and his wife Silke Quandt and the enigmatic Northern Acres who the latter share with Cornelius Lysaght. David pipe There are three meetings today, all of them over the sticks at Huntingdon, Kelso and Uttoxeter. I bet it must be frustrating for the jockeys at the moment. You can only ride at one meeting and yet some days in the week they have no jumps cards at all! I know I keep going on about it but, race planning! David has three runners. Johnny McGeeney runs in the 2m4f handicap hurdle at Huntingdon with Conor OFarrel on board. He is making his Pond House debut so it will be interesting to see how he gets on. We have two runners at Uttoxeter, Vazaro Delafayette and Famousandfearless and Tom Scu is on board both of these. Famousandfearless won last time out at Plumpton and has gone up five pounds for that win. This looks quite a competitive race for some decent prize money on offer so he will have to improve again to have a chance of winning this. This former point to point winner will appreciate the step up in distance and fingers crossed he can go well. Kim bailey Midnight Oscar goes back over hurdles and Gallery Exhibition runs the handicap chase; both races are sponsored by A&S Enterprises whose boss Andy Sulin has Charingworth here... we would like to win both races. We also run Derrintogher Bliss in the maiden hurdle. This is his first race for us and this ex Irish points winner has being going well at home.. more of a chaser. It is the first run for new owners..The Irrational Group; they are based in the Isle Of man Lucinda russell We are relieved that the going has eased for tomorrows meeting at Kelso. We start there with two in the handicap hurdle, Pulpitarian and Rhymers Ha. Pulpitarian has been running consistently this summer and will possibly have a well earned break after tomorrows run. Rhymers Ha has had a good summer back with his owner, Geoff Adam and he looks to have strengthened up. In the novice handicap chase we also run two: Dotties Dilema who looked to have benefitted from a wind operation earlier this summer, and who steps up in trip, and Venitzia who makes his chase debut and return to the track after over nine hundred days. Spirit Oscar makes her debut for Debs Thomson in the intermediate hurdle. She was purchased to run in mares chases, but there are not too many opportunities for her in the first part of the season. She will be fine on soft going. Kumbeshwar has been mixing it in the top company, and has steadily dropped in the handicap. He is a lovely horse to train with an infectious enthusiasm and while two miles may be on the sharp side for him he should enjoy the track at Kelso. Finally we run Catchthemoonlight in the two mile novice handicap hurdle. She is wearing a first time hood to see if she will relax a little; as can be seen from the photograph she was awash with sweat last time at Perth. She has been gradually improving through the summer and it will be interesting to see how she handles softer going.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 10:59:58 +0000
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