Grade Three novice chase at Roscommon

the 3 U.K. meetings today are nothing special, but there is an interesting mixed meeting in Ireland, with 4 flat races followed by 3 chases and a bumper at Roscommon. The main event is the Grade Three novice chase over 2 miles at 17.35 CET, with some quite promising types entered. The Real Article (Edward O´Grady/ Barry Geraghty) was a Grade Two winner over hurdles and has already shown that he can jump fences, but has to concede weight all round. For that reason we just prefer Shadow Eile (Di Love/ Andrew McNamara), who was also smart over sticks, but fell last time after winning her first chase in good style. Toostrong represents the powerful Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh combination, but looks held by The Real Article on latest form, but Cootamundra (JA Barry/ RM Moran) could be a danger on his first outing since April; however this trip might be a bit short, as he had previously run in the Irish Grand National. Earlier Aidan and Joseph O´Brien might land a double on the flat with John Constable in the 2yo maiden at 15.35 and the 1 1/2 mile maiden an hour later with debutant Sardinia. Both are of course extremely well-bred, the former being a full brother to St. Leger winner Leading Light; he was a beaten favourite on his debut 8 days ago but is expected to step up on that form today.
At Bath, we think that Daylight (Andrew Balding/ Jimmy Fortune) can defy top weight in the 5 furlongs handicap for 3yo´s at 17.30. He likes this track and the trainer - who also has a chance with Libeccio (Liam Keniry) in the 2yo race over 1 1 /4 miles at 15.30 - is in good form.
Another trainer in form is Mark Johnston and he can take the 6 furlongs handicap at 17.40 at Hamilton with the lightly-raced 3yo Dawn Calling (Joe Fanning); Barkston Ash (Eric Alston/ Jason JHart) could be the main danger.
They go over jumps at Newton Abbot and our best bet there is Oscar Magic (Nogel and Sam Twiston-Davies) in the novice hurdle at 15.20; the stable is going great guns and won this race last year with subsequent Cheltenham winner The New Man.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: John Constable - Go For Goal - Teoleena
2. Race: Harpist - Footprint - Foot Perfect
3. Race: Sardinia - Global Reach - Timikar
4. Race: Wyoyo - Little Arrows - Golden Silence
5. Race: The Real Article - Darwins Fox - Shadow Eile
6. Race: Dale Street - Theshowisover - Jakros
7. Race: Usuel Smurfer - Sir Vincent - Hunting Party
8. Race: Ange Balafre - Henry`s Girl - Knox`s Bridge

Top 2yo´s at the Curragh

We have had a whole series of good races for 2yo´s at Newmarket this week, and now the youngest generation also takes the spotlight at the Irish meeting at the Curragh today. 4 of the first 5 races are reserved for juveniles., including the main feature, the Group Two Beresford Stakes over a mile at 17.15 CET. This race has been won in the past by such giants as Nijinsky, Sea the Stars and St. Nicholas Abbey, but there appears to be nothing of that calibre in today´s field. Exogenesis (Ger Lyons/ Gary Carroll) is actually top-rated, having won 3 times and then running third in a Group Two here over 7 furlongs, but he is no champion. Aidan O´Brien has won this race 12 times and now saddles 2 of the 6 runners - Geoffrey Chaucer (Joseph O´Brien), who won his only start at odds-on back in July but probably did not beat much, and Oklahoma City (Seamus Heffernan), runner-up in a Group Three here in July. Johnny Murtagh, who can do no wrong at present, trains and rides Altruistic, also winner of his only start and up in grade. Geoffrey Chaucer, a half-brother to Shamardal, is probably the horse with the greatest potential and his trainer has a good line to top 2yo form, but this is not a race to bet on.

The O´Brien´s also have a Chance in the Group Three for 2yo fillies at 15.40 with Minorette, bit here we prefer My Titania (John Oxx/ Declan McDonogh) and Tarfasha (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen). This trip of 7 furlongs could be on the short side for Tarfasha, a half-sister to Group One performers Galileo Rock and Saddlers Rock, althoughWeld would of course love to win this race named after his father. However it would be nice to see Oxx take a good race with a son of Sea the Stars and racing in the same colours.

The O´Brien´s should certainly win the listed race for 2yo´s over 6 furlongs at 16.15 with the promising Guerre, while they have another good chance in the listed race over 2 miles at 18.20 with Eye of the Storm, a lightly-raced 3yo who is up in distance today, but can reverse recent form with Missunited (Mick Winters/ Herffernan), who is also a smart hurdler; so is Weld´ s Unaccompanied (Smullen) and she is our selection, although some rain would help.

It never ceases to amaze how poor are the cards put on in the U.K. on a Sunday, and today we just have two modest flat meetings at Epsom and Musselburgh. German-bred Broughton (Mark Johnston/ Neil Callan) at 16.55 and Omar Khayyam (Andrew Balding/ Oison Murphy) in the Apprentices Derby at 17.30 could possibly both repay each-way support at the Surrey track. Johnston could also do well in Scotland, with Light Rose (Joe Fanning) possibly his best chance at 16.35.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Tested - Kaminari - Dance With Another
2. Race: Minorette - Tarfasha - My Titania
3. Race: Guerre - Shining Emerald - Boom The Groom
4. Race: Nero Emperor - Greek Canyon - Gathering Power
5. Race: Oklahoma City - Exogenesis - Geoffrey Chaucer
6. Race: Campanology - Regulation - Line Drummer
7. Race: Eye Of The Storm - Unaccompanied - Missunited

Cambridgeshire plus two Group Ones at Newmarket

Newmarket stages one of its best cards of the year today, with the Cambridgeshire Handicap over 9 furlongs at 16.50 CET as the main event, and two Group Ones as supporting features. With the ground getting firmer, there could be several non-runners and any horse needing cut will certainly be at a disadvantage. The Cambridgeshire is always one of the toughest races of the year and anything is possible.

There does not appear to be any draw bias, so the winner could come from anywhere. More in hope than expectation, we nominate 5 horses for the short list: Belgian Bill (George Baker/ Pat Cosgrave), Field of Dream (Jamie Osborne/Adam Kirby), Red Avenger (Ed Dunlop/ Gerald Mossé) and two trained by William Haggas: Fury (John Fahy) and Queensberry Rules (Ryan Moore), but there are still another 25+ runners to consider!

The Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at 15.35 is generally regarded as the best race of the year for 2yo fillies and French fillies have a good record here, so Vorda (Philippe Sogorb/ Olivier Peslier) is a good starting point; after winning her first 3 races, including the Robert Papin, she was an excellent runner-up to the smart No Nay Never in the Morny.On a line through Rizeena, runner-up in a Group One here yesterday, she holds Kiyoshi (Chatlie Hills/ Jamie Spencer) and the main danger could be Princess Noor (Roger Varian/ Johnny Murtagh), who won well at Ascot last time and whose trainer and jockey are both in terrific form.

The Sun Chariot at 16.10 is also a Group One for fillies, but this time older ones over a mile. Sky Lantern (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes) looks the key runner here; she won the 1,000 Guneas over this CD, beating the reopposing Just the Judge (Hills/ Spencer), who went on to take the Irish equivalent, and then won at Royal Ascot. She can be excused her poor run at Goodwood, biut before that was just beaten in an infamous race for the Falmouth Stakes at the July Meeting here by Elusive Kate (John Gosden/ William Buick). Elusive Kate clearly hampered her badly and we think she should have got the race. She has her chance of revenge today and the fast ground should suit her ideally.

The card opens with the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes for 2yo´s over a mile and this looks a match between Berkshire (Paul Cole/ Jim Crowley) and Somewhat (Mark Johnston/ Gerald Mossé). Berkshire has not run since his impressive Royal Ascot victory, when Somewhat was 8 lengths behind, but the latter has shown good form since and there should be little in it today.

There are some tricky handicaps later, and we fancy Ayaar (Mick Channon/ Ryan Moore) over 7 furlongs at 18.00; he has not won since Baden-Baden a year ago, but has come down in the weights and is running over his best distance.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Somewhat - Washaar - Kingfisher
2. Race: Vorda - Kiyoshi - Joyeuse
3. Race: Sky Lantern - Elusive Kate - Integral
4. Race: Ascription - Queensberry Rules - Graphic
5. Race: Meeting Waters - Remember - Hala Hala
6. Race: Regal Dan - Flyman - Frontier Fighter
7. Race: Urban Dance - Marju`s Quest - Bantam