Yesterday’s Review
1pt e/way Victoire Magique (97) – The ride on the selection made no sense in that his jockey Cristian Demuro allowed a 35/1 shot to dictate a very slow pace in a race where his mount was one of only two contestants with winning form over the distance. There was enough cut in the ground for the selection to do himself justice, but he raced keenly off the slow pace and allowed the speedier types the advantage in how the race was run. He weakened into 5th place beaten 3.25 lengths and this will go down as pilot error for me.
0.5pt e/way Eleganz (109) – The selection raced in rear, and made some headway into fifth place over a furlong from home, but couldn’t find another gear in the final furlong. She was beaten 5.25 lengths, and it looks like softer ground and a lesser task will be the ticket going forward.
1pt e/way Ancient State (108) – The selection swerved right at the start and gave away valuable ground. He attempted to claw back some of the deficit and soon made some headway along the rail. However, he was beaten a short head for 4th place in the end having been backed into 3/1 favourite. A bitter pill to swallow…
0.75pt e/way Rhythm N Hooves (109) – A fine performance from the selection who raced prominently but found the winner a length too strong at the line. Result 2nd 14/1 adv…14/1 SP.
0.75pt e/way Jenever (100) – A frustrating performance from the selection who broke very well, but looked like he raced on the wrong part of the track in the home straight (judging by events on the night) as most of the winners and placed horses in the handicaps came stands side. He did weaken in the finish, however, and it will be interesting to see how he gets on going forward. I always like my selections to race on the outside of the leaders and head stands side down the straight at Southwell.
Today’s Advice
RB KINGMAKER/CHDIA (10f PA Gp1) – The (2.25) Longchamp Qatar Arabian World Cup for Purebred Arabians sees HM Alchahine put in as the short price favourite, and when he is on his A-game he can be an impressive sort who has won six times at this level in the past. However, he can also “spit the dummy” out on occasions when it comes to battling hard for the victory, and at the prices I am happy to take him on with two rock solid battlers who have no such questions about them.
The former selection has experienced a real “rejuvenation” this season since finishing a disappointing 5th in a rain-soaked Group 1 over course and distance back in May behind Lacaro Du Croate. He returned to form over the mile at Goodwood in the Qatar International Stakes at the end of July. On that occasion he made the very capable Lippo De Carrere look ordinary when easily disposing of him by just over 2 lengths under Christophe Soumillon to take his fifth Group 1 contest. Last time out he proved much too strong for ten opponents in a Group 2 contest for the UAE President Cup series over 10f at Waregem in Belgium. He raced in touch of the leaders on that occasion before taking up the running a furlong from home for a comfortable 3 length victory. His trainer looks to have him in cracking form at the moment, and if the favourite is not on the ball he will be found out by this very likeable seven-year-old.
The latter selection has developed into one of the top mares in the Purebred Arabian game in 2026, and has only ever been beaten once in eleven starts. That defeat occurred in this race last year when turned over by Hajmah by the narrowest of margins having taken up the running two furlongs from home. She meets that rival once again, but it is fair to say that her victor doesn’t appear to be in the same form this season. James Doyle has chosen to ride her from the three Wathnan runners, and warmed up for today’s event with a Group 3 win in the UAE President Cup series over the mile from 8 rivals at San Sebastian back in August.
SINDAGAN (7f Lst) – The (2.30) Curragh looks like it has been priced up based on handicap ratings as many races are these days. Favourite Loughrea was impressive when recording a (110) timefigure over the mile at today’s venue when taking the Irish Cambridgeshire by 3 lengths from Manton Bay. The form has been boosted by the 3rd place finisher Pierre Royal taking the English version of the same race at Newmarket, but I don’t reckon he ran his race when meeting the favourite at The Curragh. The drop back to 7f is a question that needs to be answered by the Andrew Slattery trained runner, and he looks a short enough price to be getting involved in.
The selection tops the recent timefigure charts having recorded a career best (115) timefigure over 7f at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Stakes weekend. He missed the break badly that day, but travelled like a dream into the race from his wide draw in stall 16 over a furlong out before running on well to be beaten a length attempting to give the winner 16lb. The key to his chances is a strong pace up front and with Carolina Jetstream and Wannabe Royal in opposition the race should set up for him. He looks the value play at a double figure price, and should show that he is an improving three-year-old to take seriously providing he exits the stalls a bit better today. The loveable Big Gossey also deserves a mention having won four times over course and distance, and showed himself to be in fine fettle last weekend behind the improving Soul Love.
KALPANA (12f Gp1) – The (3.05) Longchamp Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe may be the number one middle distance race in the world, but it is fair to say it’s “shine” has been a little dulled in recent years by a massive draw bias for those drawn in single figures. Last year’s farce saw the first three home drawn 2-1-3, and anybody backing runners drawn high this year look to be behind the eight ball before the stalls even open.
The Francis Graffard trained Daryz took this race last year by a head from Minnie Hauk on going described as Very Soft. This year’s conditions look to be a good bit faster with the going described as Good to Soft yesterday. The winning times were just a few lengths per mile on the slow side of Good, and it looks like we will have a dry day ahead of us today. The faster ground should be against this year’s favourite, and he looks one to be against despite another kind draw in stall 5.
It is fair to say that the middle-distance performance of the season has to be the selection’s one and a half length dismissal of last year’s “Horse Of The Year” Calandagan in this year’s King George at Ascot. A (118) timefigure was nicely above par for Group 1 contests, and the manner the mare travelled into the race was a joy to behold on the day. She looked to be given a lot to do last time out in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks but still managed to record her third win of the year by a short head from the Jim Bolger trained Sparan Nua. With a 45 day break and a kind draw in stall 6 she should be able to go close to taking this prize.
1pt e/way Rb Kingmaker (13/2 Paddy Power, 6/1 general) 2.25 Longchamp
1pt e/way Chdia (5/1 general) 2.25 Longchamp
1pt e/way Sindagan (11/1 general) 2.30 Curragh
1pt e/way Kalpana (9/2 Bet365, 4/1 William Hill, Unibet 4 places) 3.05 Longchamp