StableTalk

More news ahead of the weekend today.

13 have been entered for the Sun Chariot at Newmarket with Diane and Matron Stakes winner LAURENS 9/4 favourite, Moulin runner up WIND CHIMES at 11/4 and VERACIOUS at 7/2. There is the usual strong Ballydoyle entry and to add spice 1000 Guineas BILLESDON BROOK is in the field at 14/1.

Over at Longchamp and bearing in mind there is a final forfeit to come, eight have been entered for the Group 1 Cadran over 4000m and Willie Mullins has entered both MAX DYNAMITE and Doncaster Cup winner THOMAS HOBSON and with the top French stayer VAZIRABAD sidelined this doesn't look a strong race.

There are plenty of British raiders in the supporting Group 2 races. BRUNDTLAND and YOUNG RASCAL go in the 3000m Chaudenay while PRINCESS YAIZA runs for Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell in the Royallieu. The Dollar over 2000m has a strong British challenge headed by LOXLEY who drops back 800m after his Leger flop but the Guillaume D'Ornano winner KNIGHT TO BEHOLD could take plenty of stopping. ADDEYBB and WHISKY BARON go for William Haggas. OSTILIO tries the step up from handicap company in the 1600m Dollar but the likes of OH THIS IS US and HERE COMES WHEN have prove Listed and Group form.

I'll preview these on Thursday.

It looks like a maximum of 20 runners for the Arc on Sunday. ENABLE is Evens favourite with SEA OF CLASS at 7/2 and WALDGEIST at 7/1. CRACKSMAN, who is doubtful, is 12s along with Leger winner KEW GARDENS, who looks the each way value. The rest are running for the bookies but TALISMANIC looks huge at 33s. Again, we'll know more later in the week.

Plenty to report this morning including the tale of one racehorse owner, Craig Buckingham, who has had an extraordinary 24 hours as you can read:

https://www.racingpost.com/news/thursda ... ces/347982

If you ever wanted evidence of the capricious nature of racing, that's it.

As for the weekend, the final declarations are through for Saturday with 10 confirmed for the Sun Chariot Stakes and no late scratchings. WIND CHIMES, who is of course trained by Andre Fabre and not by Aidan O'Brien even though the horse is owned by the "lads" at Coolmore, is now favourite at 5/2. She was third in the Pouliches back in May but ran a blinder when chasing home RECOLETOS in the Moulin. Her best form is on quick ground and Fabre knows the type to do well at Newmarket so she has a huge chance.

LAURENS has been a popular heroine all season not only for owner John Dance but for many who follow racing. She was second in the English 1000 Guineas and won the Saint-Alary, Diane and followed up in the Matron albeit the value of that form is slightly devalued with ALPHA CENTAURI having sustained her career-ending injury. Her only failure was when tried at 2400m which she patently didn't stay so she's a top notch filly.

VERACIOUS is another big player. She was no match for ALPHA CENTAURI in the Coronation on her seasonal debut but ran a fine race in defeat in the Nassau before scoring easily at Sandown in the Atalanta. She's fresher than either WIND CHIMES or LAURENS and that counts for a lot at this time of year. I just wonder if really fast ground works as well for her as it does for her main rivals.

It's not easy to choose but give me $5 from The Wiz's stash and I'd stick it on LAURENS.

At Longchamp, we have the final fields and running order for Saturday - the French authorities decide when the races are going to be run once they see the final fields. The ground is currently good to soft but there is a threat of rain for the weekend.

The Chaudenay over 3000m has just eight runners. BRUNDTLAND is unbeaten in three races and won the Niel last time beating the useful HUNTING HORN. He ought to win this - the likes of ZIYAD and LILLIAN RUSSELL are Listed class at best.

Nine go in the Dollar over 2000m with WHISKY BAROB, KNIGHT TO BEHOLD, LOXLEY and FABRICATE the British challengers and one of them will probably win it. I do wonder if KNIGHT TO BEHOLD and LOXLEY are better at 2400m. FABRICATE will love the slower ground and won a Group 3 at Windsor last time. WHISKY BARON was second in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood but was a shade disappointing in defeat at Doncaster and I'm less convinced he'll enjoy the ground.

Ten go in the Daniel Wildenstein over 1600m and again there's a strong British challenge headed by Lincoln Handicap winner ADDEYBB who won the Group 2 Mile at Sandown way back in April but was well held in the Lockinge. Favourite is Andre Fabre's PLUMATIC who was fourth in the Moulin and obviously if WIND CHIMES wins the Sun Chariot that will be a big compliment. Fabre also runs the lightly raced GRAPHITE for Godolphin while the likes of OH THIS IS US and OSTILIO run for British trainers but have it to do coming out of handicap and Listed class.

Saturday's Group 1 is the Cadran over 4000m and if there's a weaker Group 1 run in Europe this season I'll be surprised. MAX DYNAMITE is no world beater even though he's gone close at Flemington but in European terms he's second division. He was second (oddly enough) in the Doncaster Cup but we know he'll stay every inch of this trip which is less certain of the favourite HOLDTHAISGREEN who was runner up in the Kergorlay and third in the Gladiateur. MILLE ET MILLE won this in 2015 and was fifth in 2016 but has regressed.

Just six go in a very weak Royallieu over 2400m. Five 3-y-o take on a single older filly but that older filly, PALOMBE, chased home KITESURF in the Pomone and that's as good if not a deal better than anything the 3-y-o have accomplished.

So to Arc day and it's a massive day in the European racing calendar - six Group 1 races. As Qatar sponsor the whole card, there's a Group 1 Arabian race added to the card in the middle.

Final declarations are tomorrow so an early look at the action:

The Marcel Boussac is for juvenile fillies over 1600m and has 19 entries. This looks a very weak race - ZAGITOVA from the Aidan O'Brien yard is favourite but she's been beaten twice by SKITTER SCATTER, last time in the Moyglare. Fellow Ballydoyle runner HERMOSA won well at Naas last Sunday in a Group 3 which tells you all you need to know about the quality of this race.

The Lagardere is the equivalent race for the colts (though fillies can also run in it). ANTHONY VAN DYCK was second to QUORTO in the National Stakes and that's strong form but he faces the best French juvenile in ANODOR (though that may not be saying much).

19 stand in the Arc de Triomphe and the biggest scratching this morning was CRACKSMAN. ENABLE is 11/10 favourite with SEA OF CLASS 7/2 and WALDGEIST at 7/1. I'm on KEW GARDENS each way and having got 14s, he's now 11s. This isn't a vintage renewal and there's not much strength in depth in all honesty. Take out the first six or seven and the rest are Group 2 and Group 3 performers who will have a huge payday if they sneak a place - fifth gets you more than £126,000 with £2.5 million for the winner. ENABLE drew stall six this morning which is fine with SEA OF CLASS quite wide at 15, WALDGEIST at 13 and KEW GARDENS at 11. NELSON is drawn 3 so that will give Frankie Dettori a chance to slot in close to the pace.

16 have been entered for the Opera over 2000m. This is a race for the fillies with five older types taking on eleven from the classic generation. The latter are headed by the likes of Nassau winner WILD ILLUSION and MAGIC WAND, who beat her easily when winning the Ribblesdale over 400m further. I like WITH YOU who was second to LAURENS in the Saint Alary and a close fifth to the same horse in the Diane. She then won the Rothschild before proving no match for ALPHA CENTAURI and RECOLETOS in the Marois.

16 have also been entered in the Abbaye. BATTAASH was superb in this last year after it went wrong at York and it went wrong again for him on the Knavesmire when he got taken on and ran too free. He is more than capable of putting these to the sword and while TANTHEEM is the best of the locals, I think MABS CROSS, who was beaten a nose by ALPHA DELPHINI in the Nunthorpe, has claims.

The Foret is the main 1400m race of the European season. 16 have been entered and this looks far and away the race of the day. SIR DANCEALOT failed at Haydock over 1200m but he has dominated the 1400m races in Britain winning the Lennox and the Hungerford. GUSTAV KLIMT ran a blinder at Haydock and I think this is his trip and I fancy him strongly and am on each way at 8s. The favourite and deservedly so is POLYDREAM who won the Marcel Boussac last year but flopped in the Pouliches. From there, she had a long break before returning in a small race and then winning the Maurice de Gheest beating JAMES GARFIELD who then failed at Haydock.

I'll update the preview tomorrow once the final runners are known.

The final fields are through for Sunday's races at Longchamp and under the French declaration system you can supplement even at the 48 hour stage so we've some different-looking fields from yesterday. The ground in Paris remains officially good to soft.

The Marcel Boussac has 8 runners and Freddy Head has entered the unbeaten ROCQUES who beat the Charlie Appleby-trained CERATONIA in the Aumale last time. There's a strong British and Irish challenge with PINK DOGWOOD representing Aidan O'Brien and DUBAI BEAUTY the second Godolphin string after her flop in the May Hill. The most likely British winner is STAR ROYAL, a consistent type trained by Richard Hannon who stepped up from Nurseries to finish second in the aforementioned May Hill.

Just six stand in the Lagardere and the unbeaten local ANODOR faces the unbeaten British challenger BOITRON who won a Listed race over 1400m at Newbury last time. This is a huge step up and ANODOR is highly rated. Neither BROOME nor ROYAL MARINE look good enough.

19 go in the Arc with no late changes or surprises. ENABLE bids to follow up her win of last year and in many ways this is a lesser race with the 3-y-o colts hardly present. Her return at Kempton in the September Stakes was everything trainer John Gosden could have wanted and more. She comes fresh to the race and has been given a great draw. Her principal opponent is SEA OF CLASS who is now where ENABLE was this time last year. Her wins in the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks have established her as the leading 3-y-o filly and the question is how much improvement is there. She'll have to improve to tackle ENABLE if the latter is anywhere near her best and the draw has done SEA OF CLASS few favours.

WALDGEIST has emerged as the local hope and his defeat of TALISMANIC looked very good in the Foy but on a line through CORONET he has a little to find with SEA OF CLASS let alone ENABLE. KEW GARDENS will be running on at the end and is favoured by the ground and the likely strong gallop. He won the English St Leger well enough but a place is realistic at best while the 2017 English Leger winner and the 2017 Breeders Cup Turf hero TALISMANIC looks the best of the remainder, quite a few of which look hopeleslly outclassed.

For me, it's ENABLE to emulate TREVE and follow up her Arc win as a 4-y-o.

16 go in a wide open Opera over 2000m. WILD ILLUSION looks the best on the basis of her Nassau win which is effectively the English equivalent of this race. MAGIC WAND needs further and I like both WITH YOU and to a lesser extent URBAN FOX. WITH YOU ran a huge race to win the Rothschild and the step up in trip looks overdue.

16 also go in the Abbaye and while BATTAASH looks a strong favourite to follow up, it didn't go well at York and there's just the possibility he might get taken on again. I prefer MABS CROSS who just failed against ALPHA DELPHINI at York but into the mix has been thrown the 2-y-o SOLDIER'S CALL who get a lot of weight from the older horses and was a convincing winner of the Flying Childers at Doncaster last time. The top juveniles can win this and he has claims.

For me, the best is left until last with the 1400m Foret. POLYDREAM won the Maurice de Gheest and that's solid Group 1 form but SIR DANCEALOT, for all he lost in the mud at Haydock last time, has solid Group 2 form in England and will go close. I'm inclined to put up GUSTAV KLIMT for whom the 1400m may be the optimum trip.

I'm still working through the action from the weekend past and should have the reviews up tomorrow but the racing roundabout never stops and the Autumn campaign moves on this week back to Newmarket for what is called Future Champions Weekend.

As an aside, I went to Brighton this afternoon - a glorious afternoon at the track on the hill above the marina. The racing was of a pretty low quality but the two juvenile races were worth a paddock look - needless to say, the colts and fillies looked magnificent in the autumn sunshine. Brighton's not a track for newcomers in all honesty and both the juvenile races went to horses who had a couple of runs.

At Newmarket, the ground is currently Good, Good to Firm in places. Friday's card has the Group 1 Fillies Mile and the Group 2 Challenge Stakes. The former has 12 entries of which Aidan O'Brien supplies half of which the pick looks to be Rockfel winner JUST WONDERFUL though recent Naas winner HERMOSA and ZAGITOVA are also quality fillies. The home challenge is headed by Cheveley Park fourth PRETTY POLLYANNA who steps up 400m. I'm not wholly convinced as she looked to be all speed and I'm more interested in the unbeaten fillies ANTONIA DE VEGA and SHAMBOLIC who fall into the "could be anything" category.

The Challenge Stakes over 1400m is the final race in the 1400m pattern. LIMATO came back to form after a long period in the wilderness and at his best would pick these up and carry them. He was taken out of the Bengough at Ascot last weekend when the ground turned soft but if it stays fast he has a huge chance. D'BAI was second in the Park Stakes at Doncaster and is a consistent type at this level while OH THIS IS US, who was second in the Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp last Saturday would be a fascinating contender if rocking up after such a short break.

12 have been entered for Saturday's Group 1 Dewhurst over 1400m and this looks a stellar renewal with a huge clash between three unbeaten and highly regarded colts. TOO DARN HOT won the Solario and the Champagne and has been impressive while TEN SOVEREIGNS won the Middle Park beating JASH while SANGUARIUS is unbeaten in two having won well at Doncaster last time. Add to that ANTHONY VAN DYCK who represents QUORTO, ADVERTISE who arguably brings the best form having won the July Stakes and the Phoenix Stakes and finally MOHAWK who won the Royal Lodge last time.

Aidan O'Brien has eight of the twelve runners so will have a huge say on the final shape of the field and the pace for the likes of ANTHONY VAN DYCK and TEN SOVEREIGNS but we'll know more on Thursday.

I'll talk about US NAVY FLAG in the Aussie racing thread.

Plenty to look back on from the weekend’s racing so perhaps the best place to start would be Saturday with Group 1 action at Longchamp and Newmarket.

The ground was Good at Longchamp for the first day of Arc Weekend and very much the hors d’oeuvre before les entrees with four Group 2 races and the Group 1 Cadran.

The Chaudenay over 3000m for the 3-y-o stayers saw the Godolphin BRUNDTLAND sent off at 4/9 favourite. William Buick had obviously decided the French style of slow, slow, quick wouldn’t work and he set the pace but with 300m to go the pack was closing and the other Godolphin runner, LILLIAN RUSSELL, moved up under Mickael Barzalona moved up to lead but Buick got a second run out of BRUNDTLAND and got back up to win a shade cosily by half a length.

BRUNDTLAND is now unbeaten in four and looks a really nice potential stayer for next season and one of a number of potential challengers to STRADIVARIUS in the big staying races.

The Dollar over 1800m went to the outsider ALIGNEMENT who ran down LOXLEY and FABRICATE in the final 100m. The British raiders went from the front but Maxime Guyon timed his challenge on the winner to perfection.

The Daniel Wildenstein over 1600m saw a 1-2-3 for the raiders as PLUMATIC was a shade disappointing. OSTILIO has come on a lot in the last few weeks and this was a big step up from a Doncaster handicap but he saw off the likes of OH THIS IS US and HEY GAMAN. He might be a Lockinge type for next season.

The Cadran over 4000m is the premier staying race in the French calendar but this was a very weak renewal. HOLDTHAISGREEN went off favourite and made a bold bid to make all but the stamina gave out in the final 300m and the 4-y-o CALL TO WILD swept by to win convincingly by a length and a quarter. I quite liked this performance and CALL TO WILD might yet be the successor to VAZIRABAD in the French staying race. Whether he’s an Ascot Gold Cup type remains to be seen.

The Royallieu looked another weak race but produced arguably the finish of the day with PRINCESS YAIZA beating PALOMBE and SHAHNANZA by two short necks. I thought PALOMBE pulled plenty hard enough in the early stages and that didn’t help her chances.

In America it was the Trials night for the Breeders Cup. At Belmont, WOW CAT was a convincing winner of the Beldame Stakes for the juvenile fillies while COMPLEXITY equally looked the part in the Champagne Stakes for the colts and both will have big chances in their respective Breeders Cup Juvenile races. At Keeneland KNICKS GO sprang a 70/1 shock when winning the Futurity by five and a half lengths while NEXT SHARES won the Turf Mile at 23.4/1. On the west coast, ROY H completed his prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with a smooth success at Santa Anita.

Back in England, Newmarket was a miserable place on Saturday with steady rain falling all afternoon and the ground downgrading from Good/Firm to Good/Soft by the time of the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes.

Multiple Group 1 winning filly LAURENS went off favourite but there was plenty of support for the French raider WIND CHIMES. From the start, LAURENS went forward but so did HAPPILY and the two vied for the early advantage with HAPPILY leading for the first 600m until Donnacha O’Brien allowed LAURENS to stride on and this turned out to be the key moment of the race as LAURENS seemed much happier up the front and from 600m out began to get the other fillies in trouble.

First to crack was WIND CHIMES who had taken a hold and was quickly beaten tailing off to finish a long last. LAURENS looked to have the race under control but Donnacha got HAPPILY rolling up the hill and closed to within a head at the post. Outsider ALTYN ORDA ran a career best in third in front of I CAN FLY, BILLESDON BROOK and VERACIOUS, who was never able to get involved.

HAPPILY hasn’t won this year and you’d be forgiven for thinking she’d had a disappointing season but she’s run in six Group 1 races and has never finished further down than fifth. She was third in both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas and were it not for the likes of ALPHA CENTAURI and LAURENS she’d be a Group 1 winner.

LAURENS has had an exceptional year winning the Saint Alary, the Diane and the Matron as well as running a fine second in the 1000 Guineas and it’s fascinating that five months on from that race, LAURENS beat HAPPILY a head in the Sun Chariot and there was half a length between them when they were second and third in the Guineas so they’ve reproduced the 1000 Guineas form almost to the ounce. I think ALPHA CENTAURI on her day was the superior filly but both are worthy champions.

She’s in the Champion Stakes at Ascot but she seems best at 1600m and she’s not in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes which is surprising. Owner John Dance is already talking about a 4-y-o campaign and obviously races like the Falmouth and the Matron could be on the agenda though she would have to take on the best of the 3-y-o crop.

Arc Day in Paris is an occasion and over 35,000 spectators came to the revamped Longchamp Racecourse on one of the two days in the year (the other being Grand Prix de Paris evening) when the track gets a decent crowd.

Unfortunately, the huge new stand hasn’t found complete favour with plenty of complaints over queues to get on the PMU (the French equivalent of the TAB) as well as queues for food and for the toilets. Viewing has also been a problem with many seats having obstructed views.

The quality of the facilities didn’t detract however from the quality of the racing with six thoroughbred Group 1 races on a magnificent card which in many ways is the climax to the European season (despite British Champions day in a fortnight).

The card opened however with a less than stellar renewal of the Marcel Boussac for the juvenile fillies over 1600m and this turned into one of those messy French races with STAR TURN in particular done no favours. PINK DOGWOOD led but she’s a long way down the Ballydoyle pecking order and as she dropped back through the field the traffic problems started. ROCQUES and LAGRANDECATHERINE were also sufferers but Pierre Charles Boudot kept it simple and came down the outside on 25/1 shot LILY’S CANDLE to run down MATEMATICA close home. The second was having only her second run and comes out of this with a lot of credit but it was a poor renewal.

The second race was the Jean Luc Lagardere over 1600m for the juvenile colts for which just six went to post with four British and Irish raiders taking on two locals one of which was the unbeaten ANODOR, who went off 4/5 favourite. From the start the Aidan O’Brien trained BROOME went off hard tracked by ROYAL MARINE with ANODOR sitting seemingly happily in third.

In the straight, ROYAL MARINE went up to BROOME and went on but ANODOR, when called on for an effort, simply didn’t get going. The horse has a scuttling little action and I did wonder if he’d prefer softer ground. ROYAL MARINE held off the late challenge of BROOME to record a rare Group 1 for Saeed Bin Suroor. ROYAL MARINE is in the Futurity at Doncaster but as he’s by Raven’s Pass out of a Singspiel mare I wonder if they see him as a Derby horse for next year.

BROOME’s run is a strong compliment to MADHMOON who beat him comfortably in the Group 2 at Leopardstown over Irish Champions Weekend. As for ANODOR, this is probably the worst crop of juveniles in France for many years – that’s not to say ANODOR might not be a very good 3-y-o but I would love to see him on a slower surface.

The Opera over 2000m looked a much stronger race with Nassau winner WILD ILLUSION narrowly favoured over the likes of Lockinge winner RHODODENDRON, Ribblesdale winner MAGIC WAND and the Rothschild winner WITH YOU.

WINTER LIGHTNING and RHODODENDRON set the gallop with the Irish Pretty Polly winner URBAN FOX third. WINTER LIGHTNING went on with 1200m to go and set a solid gallop. WILD ILLUSION was in fifth place going nicely for William Buick. Off the home turn and WINTER LIGHTNING quickly folded and this allowed Ryan Moore to make an enterprising move up the rail on MAGIC WAND. Meanwhile, Buick had gone for home on WILD ILLUSION and had poached a small advantage which he held to the line with MAGIC WAND beaten a length and only just holding off the late finishes of HOMERIC and WITH YOU who finished third and fourth respectively.

Whether she was ridden to get the trip or not, it all happened too far in front of WITH YOU who remains a useful filly. HOMERIC had run a fine third to LAURENS in the Diane before finding it all too much over the 1600m of the Moulin. MAGIC WAND had her finest hour over 2400m in the Ribblesdale and perhaps the slightly loose ground here wasn’t ideal but she also ran very well.

WILD ILLUSION has had a huge season and is the bridge between the milers and the middle-distance fillies. She won the Boussac last year and this year finished fourth in the English 1000 Guineas and runner up in the English Oaks before winning the Nassau at Goodwood. She does seem to enjoy some juice in the ground and it will be interesting to see if Godolphin keep her in training next year.

The Abbaye over 950m is the leading sprint championship race in the European calendar. BATTAASH has had a good season but disappointed when fourth to ALPHA DELPHINI (MABS CROSS second) in the Nunthorpe at York. CITY LIKGHT and TANTHEEM looked the best of the locals while the juvenile SOLDIER’S CALL added an interesting dimension to the race.

BATTAASH and SOLDIER’S CALL were prominent from the start and probably went too quick for their own good but in receipt of 17 lbs, SOLDIER’S CALL led in the final 200m but the closers had the edge and first GOLD VIBE and finally MABS CROSS swooped late and in a finish of necks and heads MABS CROSS prevailed from GOLD VIBE, SOLDIER’S CALL, BATTAASH and the arguably unlucky LOST TREASURE who came with a run but found the gaps closed and Wayne Lordan had to take a pull. LOST TREASURE would probably have won with a clear run and he’s one to take out of the race.
Of the others, HAVANA GREY raced prominently but didn’t get home while Nunthorpe winner ALPHA DELPHINI didn’t look happy on the loose ground.

BATTAASH ran about the same as the Nunthorpe and has gone back a notch from earlier in the season. I wonder if there is an issue but he’s vulnerable when taken on. SOLDIER’S CALL ran a huge race – it’s a race juveniles can win but only the very best do and this shows SOLDIER’S CALL to be an above average sprinting juvenile. Whether they keep him to 1000m or try the Commonwealth Cup route will be interesting but he’s all speed.

GOLD VIBE ran a career best at 66/1 but it was an emotional day for MABS CROSS and her connections after the bitter disappointment of losing a nose at York. She’s arguably the top 1000m horse now but of course her value as a broodmare has gone through the roof.

I thought the Foret was the race of the day with the 1400m heat attracting a strong field headed by Maurice de Gheest winner POLYDREAM who faced a strong raid from Britain (SIR DANCEALOT, JAMES GARFIELD) and Ireland (GUSTAV KLIMT).

POLYDREAM went off 11/8 favourite but as expected Frankie Dettori sent JAMES GARFIELD forward to make the running while Gerard Mosse on SIR DANCEALOT was forced to drop back from the wide 16 stall.

In the straight, ZALAMEA and KARAR challenged but this was a typical Longchamp finish with any amount of scrimmaging in the final 300m. POLYDREAM had no sort of run down the inside but on the outside ONE MASTER came through to inch out INNS OF COURT and DUTCH CONNECTION with a length and a half back to GUSTAV KLIMT and SIR DANCEALOT. POLYDREAM finished a slightly unlucky seventh.

GUSTAV KLIMT ran another solid race in fourth while I’m sure the outside draw didn’t help SIR DANCEALOT who had too much to do to get into contention. DUTCH CONNECTION is a 1400m specialist and ran another huge race here at a big price. INNS OF COURT produced a fine effort for Andre Fabre for whom it was proving a frustrating afternoon. He had been beaten a long way in the Maurice de Gheest but saves his best for the turning tracks.

If you had asked trainer William Haggas who his most likely winner on Arc afternoon was going to be, he would not have said ONE MASTER and on an afternoon of shocks this one turned up at 33/1. She won a Group 3 in Ireland last time but looked outclassed. She’s by Fastnet Rock and is the fourth foal of Enticing, a sprinter in the mid 2000s but she stays that little bit further than the dam and this was a huge step forward. Obviously, she is now a valuable commodity as a broodmare with a Group 1 in her CV.

On then to the climax of the card, the Arc de Triomphe, for which ENABLE went off a warm 5/4 favourite but there was late support for WALDGEIST against her while SEA OF CLASS was relatively weak in the pre-race market.

As a race, it had been dissected before it started and this was one of those occasions when things happened as they were supposed to. ENABLE broke well and got a nice position behind NELSON and CAPRI while James Doyle opted to drop in SEA OF CLASS from her wide stall. The gallop was strong as expected but I thought ENABLE ran free enough in the first 600m.
Into the straight and CAPRI went on momentarily but Frankie Dettori moved into the pole position on ENABLE 400m out and pushed the filly into the lead but the electric acceleration of 2017 wasn’t quite there and she hadn’t put the race to bed in the final 200m.

James Doyle had worked SEA OF CLASS forward but crucially didn’t get a clear run and had to track behind one horse before launching her effort. She flew home but ENABLE held on by a short neck. Last year’s winner CLOTH OF STARS and stable mate WALDGEIST ran on well to take third and fourth respectively with CAPRI not beaten far in fifth.

Of the other fancied runners, KEW GARDENS also kept on but 2400m is too short for this horse in Group 1 class and he was beaten four lengths.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Andre Fabre and well though WALDGEIST ran, CLOTH OF STARS, beaten two and a half lengths last year, was only a length behind ENABLE. I doubt he had improved so she was not as good as last year. I wonder if WALDGEIST rather than TALISMANIC will tilt for the Breeders Cup Turf.

SEA OF CLASS ran a storming race in second and we’ll never know if she would have won with a clear run. Some have argued she would have won with ENABLE’s draw – perhaps but SEA OF CLASS is a hold up horse and riding her that close to the pace might not have helped. She is likely to stay in training as a 4-y-o which is wonderful news and doubtless connections will fancy their chances of depriving ENABLE of a historic third Arc next October.

ENABLE did it and it all went to the script – after the race trainer John Gosden admitted she was only 85% of the horse she was last year and that’s no surprise after such a long break. I imagine ENABLE will be seen out much earlier – perhaps at the Royal meeting – next year and perhaps WINX can still come and take her on and that would be a race to savour.

The Arc was the only race of the weekend to be run below standard time – 2 minutes 29 and change as the Americans put it – for the 2400m and this was a serious race run as a serious race.

A wonderful day for the British trainers who scooped five races with ROYAL MARINE, WILD ILLUSION, MABS CROSS, ONE MASTER and ENABLE with just the Marcel Boussac for the locals and a shutout for Ballydoyle and Coolmore. I don’t think the juveniles races were any good but I was impressed by WILD ILLUSION in the Opera and by MABS CROSS in the Abbaye.

The final declarations are through for the Newmarket meeting starting tomorrow.

The ground remains Good to Firm though some rain may fall tonight. Eight line up for the Group 2 Challenge Stakes and LIMATO is the 13/8 favourite. After a spell of disappointing races at the highest level, LIMATO has bounced back with two Listed wins but is still rated 7 lbs below his best and he can't afford to be anything other than near his best in Group 2 grade. D'BAI is a solid alternative having only just failed against MUSTASHRY in the Park at Doncaster last time. MANAKIB is improving fast but he'll need to find another 5-7 lbs to really be a factor.

Eight also go in the Group 1 Fillies Mile for the juveniles but this doesn't look a very good renewal. PRETTY POLLYANNA is on a recovery mission after a disappointing fourth in the Cheveley Park where she ran like a filly who needed distance. HERMOSA is favourite on her third in the Moyglare after which she won a small race at Naas without any problem. The 1600m is an ask but I think the unbeaten ANTONIA DE VEGA may be the answer - she looked very good winning a Group 3 at Goodwood and as a daughter of Lope de Vega she won't mind a drop of rain.

On to Saturday and just seven stand in the Group 1 Dewhurst. Regrettably Middle Park winner TEN SOVEREIGNS has been taken out but TOO DARN HOT is Even favourite to see off the likes of ANTONY VAN DYCK and SANGUARIUS. I think ADVERTISE is a huge price at 8/1 as he is the only Group 1 winner in the field but the seven runners makes it marginal for the each way shark. TOO DARN HOT should win but many tall reputations have been sunk in the Dewhurst and while a lot of people like him he needs to do it at Group 1 level to take the next step forward.

There's plenty of quality racing elsewhere - the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons Laffitte should continue the British plundering of the French juvenile prizes as the locals have only one contender. HELLO YOUMZAIN may be the answer.

It's the big night of international racing at Woodbine in Canada with 11 going for the Canadian International. THUNDERING BLUE ran a fine third to ROARING LION in the Juddmonte and this looks tailor made for him. Listed winner SHEIKHA RAIKA runs in the EP Taylor Stakes but this is a big step up and a place might be her best hope. NYALETI runs in the 1800m Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on the turf but she also has a lot on against the locals.

Little to mention on Sunday apart from the Velka Pardubika over 6800m in the Czech Republic. It's not quite the Grand National nor is it the Great Northern but if you find it on YouTube have a look/

Friday's Newmarket meeting took place on Good to Firm ground but with a very strong cross wind gusting to near 50mph.

Before the main races, there was a very impressive performance from SERGEI PROKOFIEV to win the 1000m Group 3 and I think he could be a serious sprinter next year.

The Challenge Stakes was a Group 2 over 1400m and LIMATO went off 7/4 favourite. DANCING STAR set the early pace but it wasn't a day to be close to the pace and both D'BAI and LIMATO were held up off the pace. 400m out and ZONDERLAND came through to challenge but Harry Bentley brought LIMATO on the outside getting a bit of cover from the wind and quickened into the lead. D'BAI tried to challenge but had pulled a little too hard in the early stages and was left scrapping with ZONDERLAND for second place.

LIMATO has had a mixed record since his brilliant win in the 2016 Foret. In 2017, after a disastrous trip to Meydan ruined by rain-softened ground, LIMATO was third in the Diamond Jubilee and second in the July Cup before a slightly unlucky fourth in the Lennox at Goodwood and a fine win in the 2017 Challenge but this year there had been very disappointing efforts in the Lockings, the Queen Anne and the July Cup but he has bounced back with two wins in Listed company and a real return to form here. It's possibly not quite as strong a performance as last year and he's dropped from a career-high rating of 122 to 114. As a gelding, he'll be back and 1400m does seem his optimum so another campaign around races like the Lennox, Hungerford, Park and the Foret looks likely next year.

The Group 1 Fillies Mile saw PRETTY POLLYANNA on a recovery mission from her defeat in the Cheveley Park but the money came for HERMOSA from Aidan O'Brien's yard. The Godolphin runner BEYOND REASON and PRETTY POLLYANNA set the pace but the pack closed from 300m out with first HERMOSA and then IRIDESSA coming to challenge and the latter prevailed to give Joseph O'Brien (who won a certain southern hemisphere race last year) his first British Group 1.

The biggest disappointment of the race was ANTONIA DE VEGA who was later found to be lame. PRETTY POLLYANNA ran well but it may be 1400m is her trip and that will make life difficult for her as a 3-y-o. HERMOSA ran a fine race in defeat but IRIDESSA did this nicely and was a first Group 1 success for freshman sire Ruler of The World. IRIDESSA is 14/1 for the 1000 Guineas and 12/1 for the Oaks and Joseph did suggest the latter would be the target. To be honrst, though, the juvenile fillies look a poor lot this year.

Time to look back at the weekend past and plenty of quality racing in the northern hemisphere to consider.

Starting at Newmarket on Saturday with the climax of Future Champions Weekend, the 1400m Group 1 Dewhurst. This is the best juvenile race most seasons and has a wonderful lineage of winners and very often the top 3-y-o wins this as a juvenile.

The renewal of 2018 looked very high class with TOO DARN HOT, winner of the Solario and the Champagne, taking on the unbeaten SANGUARIUS, the top Aidan O’Brien contender ANTHONY VAN DYCK, whose second to QUORTO in the National Stakes last month is the best piece of Irish Juvenile form and ADVERTISE, the only Group 1 winner in the field having won the Phoenix Stakes.

Too DARN HOT was solidly supported down to odds on despite concerns about the ground which, although officially good to firm, was considered firm by a number of experts on an extraordinarily warm day (mid 20s) for October.

From the start, CHRISTMAS and ANTHONY VAN DYCK went forward with SANGUARIUS and ADVERTISE but it wasn’t going so well for Frankie Dettori on TOO DARN HOT. Anxious not to get the horse running too keen, he tried to get the colt in midfield but TOO DARN HOT was still giving plenty of energy pulling and running freely.

400m out and ADVERTISE moved up to the leaders with Frankie Dettori looking to angle out which he was able to whereas SANGUARIUS, who was probably already beaten, got short of space and his race was run.

ADVERTISE, ANTHONY VAN DYCK and TOO DARN HOT were in line at the 200m mark but as they met the rising ground, TOO DARN HOT quickened clear and won by two and three-quarter lengths with ADVERTISE a length and a quarter ahead of ANTHONY VAN DYCK who was in turn four lengths ahead of SANGUARIUS and the others.

In the end, it all worked out fine for TOO DARN HOT who cemented his position as Britain’s top juvenile and on a line through ANTHONY VAN DYCK is in front (though not by much) of QUORTO. TOO DARN HOT is 13/8 favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas and also 4/1 favourite for the 2019 Derby. He’s by Dubawi out of Dar Re Mi so 2000m shouldn’t be an issue and neither should 2400m but there’s a suggestion he has more speed so the shorter trip might be the optimum.

Trainer John Gosden also suggested the ground was as firm as he likes and he was much better running uphill than down into the dip between 500 and 300m out. It can come up firm in May so Gosden will be hoping for a wet spring.

ADVERTISE ran a fine race in second though I don’t think he really got the 1400m and is more of a sprinter while ANTHONY VAN DYCK also didn’t look entirely happy on the fast ground.
An excellent night for jockey Andrea Atzeni as he booted home a Group 1 double at Woodbine in Canada. First, DESERT ENCOUNTER got a peach of a ride to come from last on the home turn and run down THUNDERING BLUE in the final 200m to win the Pattison Canadian International. For context, DESERT ENCOUNTER was 20 lengths behind POET’S WORD in the King George while THUNDERING BLUE was well held in the Juddmonte but this was a decent prize.

The EP Taylor saw SHEIKHA REIKA score defeating the best of the local fillies and mares. She had looked good winning a Listed at Yarmouth but to go from that to a Group 1 is a big leap and this filly by Shamardal could well be coming to herself and might make a very decent 4-y-o if they keep her in training.

At Keeneland NYALETI was well held in third behind RUSHING HILL, who for all she is lightly raced is a filly of considerable ability. She won the Juvenile Fillies Turf at the 2017 Breeders Cup meeting and I wonder if they will aim her at the Distaff this year.