Horse Racing - Racing: Weekend racing preview

bet365 News Team Published: Sep 30 2022 11:33

A really high calibre weekend of racing action lies ahead, with quality UK and Irish action on Saturday joined by two days from Longchamp leading into the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Europe's most prestigious Flat race is the big event this weekend and the Arc takes place on Sunday at 3.05.

Before that, the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (2.42) gets top billing in Britain on Saturday and all the UK and Irish racing action can be followed via our Sports Live Streaming service.

Here's our look ahead to one of the key weekends in the racing calendar.

Saffron Beach sets Sun Chariot bar

There is Group 1 action at Newmarket for the second weekend on the trot and this time it is for the Fillies' & Mares' via the Royal Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (2.42) over a mile.

A field of nine runners were declared and they are headlined by Saffron Beach for Jane Chapple-Hyam, the New Bay filly trading at 6/4 to make it three wins in four starts this term and land her third Group 1 success. She won this race 12 months ago and would be just the third to defend the crown if successful.

Her trainer believes she has "improved again" heading back to nearby Newmarket, just a two-mile journey from Chapple-Hyam's base.

The sizeable presence of Homeless Songs at 9/4 for Dermot Weld presents as a big danger. The Frankel filly was very impressive in the Irish 1000 Guineas in May and was fourth recently in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on her only start since. She has two-and-a-half-lengths to find on Saffron Beach based on that run, but should be sharper now in a first-time tongue-tie.

Unbeaten Kingman filly Laurel steps up markedly in class for John and Thady Gosden after two minor wins and is 11/2 to prevail, while the Ralph Beckett-trained Prosperous Voyage won the Group 1 Falmouth on the July Course here this summer and cannot be overlooked at 7/1.

Quality afternoon at Ascot

They don't boast a Group 1 but Ascot's Saturday afternoon offering makes up for that with lots of depth on the card as they stage two Group 3s and a pair of Listed contests alongside a pair of testing handicaps.

The opening Rous Stakes (1.51) is a Listed event over 5f and plenty of attention will be on 9/2 King's Lynn for Andrew Balding. The five-year-old has been held in Group 1 company lately and takes a marked drop in class now. He could become the first winner in the Royal silks since ownership switched to King Charles.

In the Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2.25), it looks as though William Haggas' Hamish will be the one to beat at 6/4 having pushed Kyprios all the way in the Irish St Leger three weeks ago.

Aidan O'Brien's High Definition remains winless in 2022 after seven runs but has been operating in better races than this one. He's 7/2 to take advantage of a drop in class.

Next off at Ascot will be their second Group 3 via the Bengough Stakes (3.00) where Andrea Atzeni will be hoping 10/3 Rohaan can get his life as a freelance rider off to a flying start as he picks up the mount on David Evans' sprinter just days after confirming his time as retained rider for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum was at an end.

Michael Dods' Gale Force Maya is a mare on top of her game after Listed wins at York and Ayr in September and she rates a 14/1 chance to land her first success in this grade under in-form Paul Mulrennan.

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Easy Game again at Gowran Park?

The National Hunt season is creeping into the consciousness once more and Gowran Park hosts the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase (4.02) as their Saturday feature.

It is, of course, the local track of Willie Mullins and he's got leading players here via Easy Game and Kemboy. They clashed a fortnight ago over this trip at Listowel and it was a facile win for Easy Game. His stablemate should be sharper for that outing but, once again, the 2m4f trip plays into the hands of Brian Hayes' partner now.

This is a more competitive contest, however, with another Closutton inmate, Franco De Port (Sean O'Keefe) and the Gordon Elliott-trained Battleoverdoyen in the hands of Davy Russell capable of having their say.

Longchamp weekend gets underway

The ground is officially 'soft' as Longchamp gets set for their flagship two days of the season across Saturday and Sunday. The Parisian track will be buzzing and there's a double helping of Group 1 action on Saturday.

First up it will be the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (1.33) where Sea La Rosa is 1/1 for trainer William Haggas. She was a brave winner of the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood over 1m6f in July and confirmed her recent progress when adding the Prix de Pomone at Deauville in August.

She is back up in trip now and looks the one to beat for Tom Marquand, though her only defeat this season came on soft ground at Haydock in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks – albeit when second-best in a strong race.

The Prix du Cadran (3.25) is a thorough stamina examination and it will be anticipated that 1/1 Kyprios should continue unbeaten campaign by adding a fourth successive top-level win for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

He's had to work hard for those wins, however, and is coming to the end of a long campaign. Therefore, York's runaway Lonsdale Cup winner Quickthorn at 1/1 for Hughie Morrison will be a dangerous rival to hand an easy lead to given that form has been franked, while French hopes are led by Deauville Group 2 winner Goya Senora at 1/1.

All eyes on the Arc

There are four UK and Irish meetings on Sunday, with jumps racing dominating, but the eyes of the racing world will be fixated on the Parisian suburbs for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.05) card at Longchamp.

Defending champion Torquator Tasso is 7/1 to become the ninth repeat winner of the great race, while recent Irish Champion Stakes scorer Luxembourg is a 3/1 chance for Aidan O'Brien.

The gutsy mare Alpinista has become a Group 1-winning machine for Sir Mark Prescott and is 9/2 to complete an eight-timer on the grandest stage she has graced, while another mare, Titleholder, is 7/1 to finally end the Japanese yearning for an Arc winner.

Throw in Eclipse winner Vadeni at 8/1 for France and Irish Derby hero Westover on a rebounding mission at 17/2 for Ralph Beckett and this renewal of the most prestigious race in Europe has plenty of depth and looks wide open.

The Arc card boasts stunning quality – with the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1.15), the Prix Marcel Boussac (1.50), the Prix de l'Opera (3.50), the Prix de l'Abbaye (4.25) and the Prix de la Foret (5.00) ensuring its elite racing all afternoon in France.