Ben Morgan’s Ascot and Longchamp tips – Wood primed for big run in Ascot feature

Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan selects his best bets for Saturday’s action at Ascot & Sunday’s action at Longchamp.

Ascot 3.00 – Annaf to rip the rule book up in Group 3 contest

I’ve been following ANNAF for half the season now, hoping his turn will come again soon, and he keeps threatening it to be ‘next time out’.

I genuinely think it might be this Saturday though, as the stars seemed to have aligned in terms of optimum conditions.

A stiff 6f on good ground in a race where he isn’t conceding lumps of weight away looks to be just what he needs at the moment, and I hope he can reward my faith.

It was too soft for him last time at Haydock, and he ran better than his finishing position suggests on the few runs before that, so he has had some genuine excuses, which surely means his luck will change sooner rather than later.

At a slightly bigger price in the same race, I will be having a saver on CELANDINE, who looks to improve for the step back up to 6f after being run off her feet in the Nunthorpe.

She stayed on quite nicely that day without getting noticed by too many judges, so I hope she remains a double-figure price here.

Her overall profile suggests she is quite unexposed, and with only 3 runs under her belt this year, she comes here fresher than some of her rivals, which makes her a good each way play.

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Ascot 3.35 – Linwood to rekindle top form back on quicker ground

I was very disappointed with LINWOOD’s finishing effort last time out at Newbury.

He was forced to wait for gaps to appear, but when they did, he was unable to quicken to go through them, which I am putting down to the softer ground conditions on offer that day.

He should be much better suited to the firmer surface on offer here on Saturday, and if so, his previous form puts him in with a right chance here.

His two Goodwood runs prior to his Newbury disappointment were top efforts, and the form lines have worked out well since.

They were over furthe,r but the stiff nature of this track should compensate for the shorter distance.

Joe Leavy comes in for the ride, and I think with his three-year-old allowance taken into consideration, he rates one of my stronger plays of the weekend. 

I will give a mention to CARRYTHEONE, who I expect to perform a lot better than what he has done so far this season.

Whether the Balmoral in two weeks’ time is the ultimate target, I am not sure, but I do think the return to his favourite track with a few less pounds on his back will see him put a step in the right direction.

I certainly don’t think he is a 66/1 shot, which he was put up as earlier in the week, especially if any rain was to fall in Berkshire.

Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe

Aventure

All eyes will be on Paris on Sunday as one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the season takes place in the shape of the Arc.

The draw has been made and has been very harsh to one or two fancy types. I do think it is a race where the draw plays a huge part, so for some contenders, I fear their chance may already be gone if they are drawn up high.

I had two horses on my shortlist for this race and I think I’m going to stick with both going into the race.

First up is AVENTURE, who I think is a very classy operator, especially on soft ground.

It will be interesting to see how much rain falls in Paris because this lady could be a lump job at 4/1 if the heavens were to open.

However, I’m taking the more conservative approach when it comes to predicting how much rain will fall and suggest her as a bet, but not as confident due to her double-figure draw and preference for softer ground.

I still think she could be good enough to win despite not having optimum conditions, so it will be interesting how she negotiates the high draw early on. 

Cualificar

My other bet at a bigger price is CUALIFICAR, who I think arrives here under the radar.

Trained by the master Andre Fabre, ridden by William Buick and owned by Godolphin, you might think he would be shorter in the betting than 14/1, but he isn’t, and I think he is the value bet of the race.

The step up to 1m 4f seemed to work wonders last time out as he put in a classy performance to get up late on despite being boxed in for the majority of the straight.

That was a top performance, and connections after the race were keen to mention this race, which suggests they think he is more than good enough to run in this.

A nice draw in 8 should ensure he gets a nice tow into the race, and being so unexposed over the trip, who knows what he will produce in the final 2 furlongs.

At 14/1, I’m keen to take a chance on him producing the goods. 

READ MORE: Arc De Triomphe weekend 2025: Dates, how to watch on tv, trainers and jockeys to watch