Frankie Dettori has two booked rides at Newmarket on Saturday as he looks not only for the single victory required to reach 500 at the home of Flat racing, but also a first success in the Sun Chariot Stakes since it gained Group One status in 2004.
A win aboard Inspiral, the favourite, would leave the July Cup as the only current British Group One missing from Dettori’s career record. It would also offer a measure of compensation for missing this year’s July Cup, due to a whip ban for his ride on Inspiral at Royal Ascot.
There is a decent case for betting against him, however, as Inspiral is a shade of odds-on with most firms while Andre Fabre’s progressive filly, Mqse De Sevigne, is on offer at around 4-1.
The gap in the market might suggest that Inspiral is several pounds clear of her main rival on ratings, but both the official handicappers and Timeform have the two fillies separated by just 1lb.
Newmarket
1.30 Prenup
2.05 Zoulo Chief
2.40 Vera Verto
3.15 Mqse De Sevigne (nb)
3.50 King’s Fountain
4.25 Military Leader
5.00 Zouzanna
Redcar
1.40 Greer
2.10 Contrast
2.45 Dragon Leader
3.20 Zain Blue
3.55 Johan
4.30 Hortzadar
5.05 Ala Kaifi
5.35 Muker
Ascot
1.50 Korker
2.25 Israr
3.00 Annaf
3.35 Pearle D’or (nap)
4.10 Nigiri
4.45 Intrinsic Bond
Fontwell Park
2.15 San Pedro
2.50 Valentino Dancer
3.25 Doc McCoy
4.00 I Shut That D’Or
4.35 Thirtyfourstitches
5.10 Toad Of Toad Hall
5.45 Sea Invasion
Wolverhampton
4.20 Bear Claws
4.55 Moon Over The Sea
5.30 Unleash Hell
6.00 Secret Bid
6.30 Bazball
7.00 How Impressive
7.30 Change Sings
8.00 Lunar Space
8.30 Connected
Mqse De Sevigne (3.15) has also hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks, winning two Group One races at Deauville in gritty fashion. Fabre’s record, meanwhile, speaks for itself and at her current odds, the great trainer’s first Group One runner in Britain this year is an excellent bet to beat the favourite.
Newmarket 1.30 Lightly-raced Whispering Words will head the betting but her opening mark is not an obvious blot on the handicap and the ultra-consistent Prenup, at around 16-1, is a decent each-way alternative.
Ascot 1.50 Korker put up a career-best performance to win at Beverley 11 days ago and is overpriced at 4-1 to follow up.
Newmarket 2.05 A big field but not much strength in depth behind the obvious favourite, Zoulu Chief, whose winning form in a York nursery in August is very much the best on offer.
Ascot 2.25 There is little to choose between Al Aasy and Israr on ratings and while Jim Crowley has plumped for the favourite, Israr has an obvious chance on his Princess of Wales’s Stakes-winning form in July.
Redcar 2.45 Dragon Leader has several pounds in hand of his nine rivals and will be a short price to return to winning form.
Uttoxeter
1.45 King William Rufus
2.15 Booster Bob
2.45 I Like To Move It
3.15 Emotional Memories
3.45 West To The Bridge (nap)
4.15 Only Money
4.45 Gibberwell
5.15 Colonel Lesley
Kelso
2.00 Darkest Day
2.30 Duleek Street
3.00 Donny Boy
3.30 Cedar Hill (nb)
4.00 Dripsey Moon
4.30 Do No Wrong
5.00 Castletown
5.30 Kilbrainy
Ascot 3.00 It took a top-class performance from Annaf to win the Portland Handicap under top weight and Mick Appleby’s sprinter could well notch a first Listed success on turf here.
Ascot 3.35 The most open race on the televised card, and Pearle D’or looks overpriced at around 16-1. David O’Meara’s gelding, a track-and-trip winner in July, put up a new career best to win at Newbury last month and gets weight from all but two opponents.
