Best bets for the horseracing around the world Saturday 30th September 2023

It is a huge weekend of racing ahead of us with top-drawer action left, right and centre over the coming forty-eight hours; it is a case of bet, eat, sleep, repeat!  I went large at Newmarket on Friday and a busy day yesterday saw me make a tiny profit, hopefully there is a few quid to be made on Saturday. 

Best bets for the horseracing at Newmarket on the Rowley Mile

Saturday see’s HQ hosting three big Two-year-old races with all the usual suspects as far as connections are concerned represented. There’s no messing about as we are straight into it. At 1.50 it is the Group Two mine Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes. Capulet was narrowly beaten by his stablemate and highly-regarded two-year-old Diego Velazquez,  at Leopardstown three weeks ago and has to be shortlisted off the back of that effort and he is being nibbled at in the market this morning. Ghostwriter steps up to Group level after two runs and two wins and deserves to take his chance though naturally a lot more will be required here. I Tipped Aablan last time to win the 7f G.3 Solario Stakes at Sandown which he did showing a good temperament to get up late. I said at the time that he had all the entries you would want to see for the autumn and the race he won at HQ on his debut in July is one the team at Moulton paddocks have started some of their best in down the years in suggesting they like him. I am sticking with him here at 11-2 BPG this morning (he has drifted a little).  I believe William Buick will ride now as he aint out in the States as planned due to the horrid weather out there. Charlie Appleby said this week “We felt that Aablan did well to win the Solario Stakes, when seven furlongs looked sharp enough for him, and we are looking forward to seeing him over a mile. He has done well since Sandown and looks a live contender. We are hoping that this can propel him onto a bright three-year-old career.”

At 2.25 we have the 6f Group One Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes for the fillies. We have a couple of non-runners already, including Relief Rally who was very high on my shortlist, leaving us with a field of eleven. French filly Jasnas Secret has been sent over the Channel and arrives two from two having looked possibly the best two-year-old filly over in France. I was very impressed with how she won the Arqana Series Stakes last time, she did it so easily Christophe Soumillon in the saddle spent most of the final furlong admiring himself on the big screen! Good - firm is an unknown for her but I see the fact connections have sent her this way across the Channel with so many horses going in the other direction this weekend as a tip in itself sticking to the six rather than the two races on the Arc card for two-year-olds over further. I am on at 9-4 BPG this morning. 

It's the 6f strip again at 3.00 for the Group One Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes as the colts take centre stage. Task Force has done all that has been asked of him thus far winning his two starts including the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy Stakes last time. I didn't back River Tiber in the G.1 Prix Morny, when beaten by Vandeek, saying at the time the going (heavy) was a concern for me. The son of Wootton Bassett subsequently didn't look at on the ground at Deauville, reportedly missed some work prior to that run as well, and I can see a different outcome between the pair on the good-firm here this afternoon. I have a bit of the 5-2 BOG early. Vandeek is rightly jolly being three from three but the faster going is a complete unknown for him and I expect River Tiber to be ridden more positively this afternoon (out the back throughout in France) and to have too much speed for the jolly late on today. 

Best bets for the horseracing at Longchamp

Over in France we have a fair card at Longchamp before the big meeting on Sunday. The 1m7f Group Two Qatar Prix Chaudenay at 12.23 is the race of interest to me. Old shrewdie Delmot Weld has sent Harbour Wind out for the race from County Kildare and I am on at 85.40. The three-year-old gelding has three wins from four starts and appeared to love the step-up in trip when winning the 1m6f Listed Aer Lingus College Football Classic Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown last time. He has form on soft, all be it over shorter, and Dermot doesn't send them just for a day out, you simply know he must fancy his chances. 

The Group One 2m4f Qatar Prix du Cadran is a fascinating renewal with Trueshan and Emily Dickinson heading the market and good old Run For Oscar also in the mix; I have decided to leave it alone. 

Be lucky