Another fabulous days racing both in Ireland and France. We really are spoilt this weekend and this is a great way to enjoy a quality Sunday with RaceBets.

Irish Champions Day 2

2:35 Curragh – Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) 1m2f

Best in the World is a lofty claim for any horse, let alone one trained by Aiden O’Brien. She is not there yet but the win at Cork last time out will give connections confidence on ground that should be perfect. She is on the improve and sets the standard. On the figures Planchart is well held by the favourite and this trip isn’t certain to suit. Which just leaves the Charles O’Brien horse, Santa Monica and she would have to improve a lot to win. It’s boring but it’s the favourite’s to lose.

4 units win Best in the World

3:10 Curragh – Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (Group 2) 5f

Love these sprints. Just so many good horses and some great stories. We hate overlooking Sole Power but the ground and his age are against him. David Griffiths, Take Cover has been a revelation this year and he led them a merry dance in the Nunthorpe for some way and still stayed on to hold 3rd. What a warrior. Rain softened ground wont hurt his chances. Cotai Glory will also like the ground and he looks about ready to explode on to our screens for Charles Hills. Its these two against the field for us

1 unit e/w Cotai Glory | 1 unit e/w Take Cover

3:40 Curragh – Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) 7f

What a race to make your debut in. It’s an amazing piece of placing by Jim Bolger and who are we to argue with him that he has over placed Dawn of a New Era. You can only conclude she is special and she will have to be to overcome the War of the flowers between Rhododendron and Hyrdangea who look to be the obvious choices. If the debutant can’t win it then it will be an Aiden O’Brien horse – well with four in it we would say that!!!

3 units win Rhododendron

4:15 Curragh – Goffs Vincent O´Brien National Stakes (Group 1) (Entire Colts & Fillies) 7f

Only an inadequate 5f and the current 2,000 Guineas Favourite have beaten Mehmas this year and that’s what Churchill has to do if he is to “Never Surrender”. Something has to give and whoever wins this will certainly come in to the reckoning for next years Guineas as a favourite. We are not about to abandon Mehmas and will back him to deliver again

2 units e/w Mehmas

4:50 Curragh – Palmerstown House Estate Irish St. Leger (Group 1) 1m6f

Trip to Paris was a phenomenon last year. He had a turn of foot at the end of 2 miles and this year ran a blinder over an inadequate trip two runs back but he disappointed last time out at York and looked poor. The problem is even at his best he can’t beat Order of St George who might be the best staying horse in the world at the moment. He will win

5 units win Order of St George  

The Arc De Triomphe Trials  – Chantilly

12:55 Chantilly – Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert (Group 3) (3yo+) (Turf) 5f

Meanwhile over in France the sprinters are lining up there as well. Another cracker. Let’s start with Marsha for Sir Mark Prescott. A sprinter, yes that’s right          a sprinter and a fast one at that. Not sure the softened ground will help but a definite chance. Catcall used to be fast but seems a bit in and out and Goldream needs fast ground to be at his best. We will take a chance with Marsha who may well handle the ground better than most and is definitely faster than the rest.

1 unit e/w Marsha

2:00 Chantilly – Qatar Prix Niel (Group 2) (3yo Colts & Fillies) (Turf) 1m4f

Can’t wait for this race. This is so interesting because both Midterm and Doha Dream are good horses worthy of favouritism in most runnings of this race but the truth is that they are about a stone inferior to the Japanese runner Makahiki who hasn’t run on this sort of ground but assuming he handles it he will win and he looks a horse who could give Postponed something to think about.

4 units win Makahiki

3:10 Chantilly – Qatar Prix Vermeille (Group 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) (Turf) 1m4f

It’s a shame there is so much other racing and these trials have been affected so badly but that doesn’t mean there is any lack of interest in those running, particularly in the case of this race. Candarliya for Alain De Royer-Dupre might be too slow for a race of this length but she is a good Group 2 horse and will give her best. Endless Time from Charlie Appelby’s yard is another Group 2 horse trying her hand in Group 1 company for which the same could be said of Freddie Heads horse Golden Valentine. The two most interesting runners are Highland Queen and Left Hand. Both look capable of running to a mark required to win a Group 1 with preference for the Maxime Guyon ridden Left Hand who was just a ½ a length behind the horse we think could well win the Arc.

1 units win Left Hand

3:50 Chantilly – Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Group 1) (3yo+ No Geldings) (Turf) 1m

Again not a vintage renewal but a good one nonetheless. Dutch Connection carries British hopes for Charles Hills and if he was going to win a Group 1 this would be the one. He will be competitive but come up just a bit short is our view. Vadamos’ second to Ribchester at Deauville looks the strongest form and any improvement for that run would be good enough to win. Of the 3yo’s we prefer Zelzal over Zarak and that is on the back of the 2nd to Stormy Antarctic at Chantilly. We think the Ed Walker horse is very good so further improvement by the Rouget horse could be good enough. It’s hard to fancy Spectre or Trixia on what they have done so far.

1 unit win Zelzal

4:25 Chantilly – Prix Foy (Group 2) (4yo+ No Geldings) (Turf) 1m4f

Only four runners and tactics will play a big part. The German runner Ito needs an end to end gallop and that’s not assured, as does One Foot in Heaven. Perhaps these two will ensure it is, in which case we get a proper race. The most versatile horse is Silverware and the recent defeat of Erupt looks a strong piece of form.

2 units win Silverware   

5:05 Chantilly – Qatar Prix Gladiateur (Group 3) (4yo+) (Turf) 1m7f

Well whatever else happens at least we can finish this amazing weekend of racing with a winner. Vazirabad tuned up nicely at Saint Cloud over an inadequate trip last time out and will simply be too strong in this race for his rivals. Let’s not mess about

4 units win Vazirabad