Even by Aidan O'Brien's standards saddling the 1-2-3 in Sunday's Arc was an extraordinary achievement and it was satisfying to see our selection Found lead home the Ballydoyle monopoly at Chantilly. The filly is 11/10 at BetVictor to win the Breeders' Cup Turf for a second successive year next month and there is no doubt that this is her time of year.
I'm looking forward to the hurdling debut of Shattered Love (2.25) at Tipperary this afternoon for Gordon Elliot and Bryan Cooper in the colours of Gigginstown Stud who have been in the headlines recently with Ryanair owner Michael O'Leary removing 60 of his horses from the care of Willie Mullins.
The selection finished third in the Aintree Mares' Bumper back in April having won a point-to-point and bumper and she is an exciting prospect for the Elliot yard.
Davy Russell is jocked up on Jetstream Jack (4.25) for the same stable having refused to ride at Clonmel last week after being hit with a 17-day ban, 14 of which were for verbally abusing the stewards. The selection makes his chase debut in the Beginners Chase and this winning point-to-pointer has always been thought of as an embryonic chaser; another exciting prospect.
Elliot can also take the finale with Monbeg Notorious (5.25) who looks an out-and-out stayer and this 2m4f Bumper looks right up his street. The unraced Clara Sorrento has the considerable assistance of Nina Carberry in the saddle for Noel Meade but the selection ran well in a decent bumper at Punchestown back in the spring and is likely to be hard to beat.
At Leicester Ghadaayer (2.50) ran a race full of promise on debut for Sir Michael Stoute and normal improvement will make her hard to beat in the 7f maiden. A market move for newcomers Shiloh or Mordoree would be worth noting but the Stoute filly sets a very fair standard and there is no reason why she shouldn't be as least as effective on turf.
There is a valuable and competitive 12f handicap with plenty of pace in the race which should suit Monotype who represents the same connections as Postponed who disappointed in the Arc at the weekend. The 4-y-old was a facile winner at Ffos Las last time but is 6lbs higher in a better race and is likely to be too short in the betting.
I am going to give the nod to Michael Bell's Fabricate (3.50) who hasn't won since May 2015 when ridden for the only time by Adam Kirby who returns to the saddle today. He should have the race run to suit, stays further, and gets the each way vote.
Mr Orange (4.20) is in good form of late and the 3-y-old is taken to return to winning ways for Paul Midgeley; it was only the draw that beat the selection at Pontefract last time and talented apprentice Clifford Lee takes over in the saddle this afternoon.
At Kempton Syndicate (6.40) can make it third time lucky for Ralph Beckett having finished second in both starts over 7f including when done for a turn of foot here last month. The step up to a mile will suit, she has a decent draw in stall four and connections look to have found a gilt-edged opportunity.
Artful Rogue (8.40) is blinkered for the first time having finished runner up over C&D last time under champion jockey elect Jim Crowley. Crowley has a decent record on the 5-y-old and the horse is 5lbs lower than when scoring under today's pilot over C&D as a 3-year-old. Tonight's surface obviously suits and he has a good draw in two for one who likes to race up with the pace.
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