Midweek Tipping - Brighton Thursday 13th October 2011

The racing world is awash with hype and expectation as the build up towards the first ever QIPCO Champions Day draws ever nearer. Once again the world and its mother can gaze their eyes on the world’s top rated racehorse, the Sir Henry Cecil trained FRANKEL, who looks to extend his unbeaten run to nine in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Before that however the jumps season is now in full swing and we head back to jumping’s HQ at Cheltenham, with a good set of handicaps on offer. Thursday has racing at Uttoxeter and Wincanton but we’ll focus our attentions on Brighton, where Silvestre De Sousa aims to make up ground on Paul Hanagan and Kieren Fallon.

Our first selection runs in the 3.00, a Class 6 Handicap run over 10 furlongs, where, despite the poor grade, it could be worth taking a chance on PRINCE OF THEBES who has come tumbling down the handicap in recent starts. He has looked like he may return to form, travelling well without finding much, and the new whip rules may just aid him as he seemed to be one who finds little under pressure. He has come down 24lb since his last win 18 months ago, and his apprentice rider takes another 5lb off to boot. The jockey is 3/9 at Brighton, so is something of a specialist, and could be worth a punt at a working man’s price.

A really tricky maiden is up next in the 3.30, with stables represented including the Balding, Hannon and Godolphin yards to name but a few, with some finely bred two year olds on display. Renegotiate runs for the Andrew Balding and Jimmy Fortune connections and he showed promise two weeks ago in a Newmarket maiden, there could be more to come. Richard Hannon won this race last year and has another smart prospect in Golden Jubilee. He was well backed last time out in what seemed a smart maiden at Salisbury but didn't seem to handle the soft ground. He could go better on a firmer surface.

The stand out entry, however, is EXPERT FIGHTER for Saeed Bin Suroor and the interesting jockey booking of William Buick. The Dubai Destination colt ran a good seventh on his debut at Haydock in a maiden where the form has worked out really well with the three subsequent runs bringing a win and two seconds.

PEARL OPERA is horse who has been thriving on the all weather lately, and has not been seen on the turf since his maiden at Chepstow, but that shouldn't hamper his chances at all. The filly has the advantage of acquiring the services of Richard Hughes, who has been in sparkling form this past few weeks, with 11 wins from 43 runners so far in October, including a Listed race, Sales race and two group wins. Pearl Opera won last time out and won well, staying on strongly. She has gone up only 3lb in the handicap and the handicapper seems to have given her a chance to go and give connections another happy afternoon.

3.00 Prince of Thebes (Ew)

3.30 Expert Fighter (Nap)

4.00 Pearl Opera

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

Weekend Tipping, Ascot, Newmarket and The Arc

A fantastic weekend of racing afoot, with Ascot hosting a fantastic card, including a Group 2's, a listed race as well as the Challenge Cup, a tough 28 runner handicap, with the seasons most versatile and arguably the best handicappers in racing this season. There is also racing at Newmarket, with more of the rich sales races for two year olds, not to mention the richest race in Europe with the Arc being at Longchamp Sunday, and lots of European challangers aiming to bring the prize across the channel for the third successive year.

The Arc is the richest and arguably the most coveted race in the world, and is the second most important race when it comes to the breeding industry, only behind the Derby and with top breeding operations having the Arc as their number one target. Coolmore, Juddmonte, Darley and The Aga Khan have stamped their print on this race, and all will have entrants aiming to carry on their fine tradition. Coolmore and Ballydoyle are likely to have southern hemisphere sensation So You Think as their spearhead, and should go well on ground that will suit, with little rain forecast. Despite disappointing in the Prix Foy, St Nicholas Abbey could still turn out, although would be suited with more cut in the ground. They are also represented by Irish Derby first and second, Treasure Beach and Seville, Epsom Oakes second Wonder of Wonders and likely pacemaker Regent Street.

The drying ground is also likely to suit dual Oaks heroine Snow Fairy, who ran So You Think home in the Irish Champion Stakes, and seems prime for a fine autumn campaign. Last year's winner WORKFORCE seems to suit the track, especially the long punishing straight, but with him again having fitness worries given his recent King George run after hanging badly, he could not backed with high amounts of confidence. A horse with a good chance is GALIKOVA, half sister to champion miler Goldikova, and put her Prix De Diane second behind when winning the traditional Arc trial the Prix Vermaille. The daughter of Galileo seemed to thrive when stepping up to a mile and a half, after previously winning a Group Two at Deauville, turning the tables on French Oaks winner Golden Lilac. Galikova will get lumps of weight being a three year old fillee, and has to be considered. The main challenge and leading threat however represents HH Aga Khan, who aims to follow Zarkava's win in 2008 with SARAFINA, who looks to build on a disappointing third last year. She was badly hampered in running, and arguably would have finished much closer were it not for the argy bargy in behind. She has been a model of consistency since starting her four year old campaign, taking her career earnings over the £1 million mark. After finishing second in the Prix Ganay, she has won a further three races, the last two over 12 furlongs. She travels like a dream, and stays so well, winning her last three races in the final strides, all winning on hands and heels rides from Cristophe Lemaire, and providing she can avoid trouble in running, she should carry on her record over never finishing out of the front three at Longhchamp on Sunday.

WAHYLAH runs in the Tattersalls 2yo Trophy at Newmarket, and aims to give connections back to back wins after Clive Brittain's Masaya won last year under Tom Queally. Wahylah stepped up on her maiden run by running well in a group two before winning a good sales race at Newmarket last time out, and looks to have the experience and the pedigree to take a race of this calibre.

Richard Hannon's stable jockey, Richard Hughes can't be at Ascot Saturday, but the chances of MONSIEUR CHEVALIER look very good, following his late win at Goodwood in a listed contest last time out. He got a master ride from Steve Drowne that day to win by a nose, and based on his Golden Jubilee Stakes form, he looks to set a high standard. Six furlongs seem to be his optimum trip, and although the Golden Jubilee form has not worked out too well, he still looks to be the best horse in a highly competitive Group 3 contest.

QUEST FOR PEACE looks to be another chance for Kieren Fallon to make some ground on champion jockey Paul Hanagan when riding for boss Luca Cumani in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot. Closely related to multiple Group 1 winner Misty For Me, this son of Galileo was last seen building on maident promise by winning a very good listed race at Roscommon over a mile and a half. Hayizna, Address Unknown and Unity, all down the field have all come out and ran well, and the colt looks to have bags of improvement to come. He has tough competitors in last years St Leger winner Arctic Cosmos and John Smiths Cup favourite Pekan Star, but the unexposed three year old can build on an already promising start to his career here at Ascot.

Prix De L'arc De Triomphe - Sarafina & Galikova (Ew)

2.25 Newmarket - Wahylah

2.40 Ascot - Quest For Peace (Nap)

3.15 Ascot - Monsieur Chevalier