- All times BST
There’s a feast of top-class Group racing on both sides of the English Channel this weekend, with a Derby, Guineas and Arc winner all set to run, but despite that all eyes will be on a 9-year-old gelding who’s yet to race outside of Novice company. We’ll get onto Constitution Hill – and why he remains such a draw – later in the piece, but for now we’ll focus on a Haydock card that features the Group 1 Sprint Cup (15:40).
Just the eight runners go to post for this contest with the short field due to the unseasonal heavy ground, but it’s still an intriguing and open affair. Last year’s 1-2 Big Mojo and Kind Of Blue return for another shot, while Almeraq, who’s already won a Group 1 at Royal Ascot this season, heads the market having looked like a machine on soft ground earlier in his career, albeit at lower levels.
The City of York Stakes that Marvelman and Paborus finished 3rd and 7th in last time has already started to work out nicely and I can see both of those runners going well, particularly the latter who should be seen to maximum effect held up from a favoured high draw.
The Betfair Celebrates Bow Echo Ascendant Stakes (13:55) is named in honour of last year’s winner of the race – the titular Bow Echo – who went onto sweep the 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes in an unbeaten career which was frustratingly cut short by injury last month. Promising Godolphin colt First Law heads the market, with Rocket Boy not far behind for jockey Marco Ghiani, who is having a breakout season.
The card kicks off with the Superior Mile Stakes (13:25) which sees Dancing Gemini try to get his career back on track. He gets some welcome class relief as he drops to below Group 2 level for the first time since March last year. He ran poorly last time, however, and has a bit to prove now. Needle Match is progressing, but I thought he had a perfect trip last time out, while French Guineas third Hankelow also comes here off the back of a flat effort. Perhaps Persica, who I’ve always thought might be a soft ground miler, or the improving The Lost King can spring a surprise.
Over on synthetics at Kempton, keep an eye on Moonrise in the Sirenia Stakes (15:20). This gal was victorious at this level last time out, a win which guaranteed her a spot in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. A victory here would enhance her reputation further with a step up in distance at Keeneland in late October sure to suit.
We have a sensational day of racing at Longchamp on Sunday with two Group 1 races and the Prix Foy, which sees last year’s Arc winner Daryz in action. The card kicks off with the Group 3 Prix la Rochette (12:58), where superstar French juvenile Avec Toi should extend her winning run in a race where her rivals have plenty to find on form. She’ll be back for the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day, no doubt.
The first of the Group 1 races is the Qatar Prix Vermeille (14:50) in which Christophe Clement Turf Stakes winner Survie takes on 12 rivals. This looks like a stronger contest than that Saratoga Grade 1, however, despite the race being confined to distaffers, with Yorkshire Oaks second Sporan Nua and French Oaks runner-up Pink Panthera likely to provide stern competition.
There are two further races run over the Vermeille course and distance, the first of which is the Prix Niel (16:00). This isn’t far off Classic quality itself with the field headed by Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini. He comes here following a fine third in the King George and should take all the beating, although he faces some high-class rivals in the shape of Varandir, Alam and Zaraki, with the last named looking sure to relish this distance.
The Group races close out with the Prix Foy (16:35), which sees the aforementioned Daryz strut his stuff. This son of Sea The Stars was perhaps a bit disappointing on the face of it last time out at Royal Ascot, but he may just be a poor traveller and I’m sure he’s better on soft going, so we should see the best of him here. His only serious competition is Bay City Roller, whose run in the Tattersalls Stakes has been franked recently. He was surely flattered by his 10-length winning margin in the Coronation Cup last time out, but this colt is a serious tool when the mud is flying and will probably be a bit more tuned up than his main market rival.
Race Of The Weekend
Nestled between the Arc trials is the Prix du Moulin (15:25) over a mile. This Group 1 has attracted some top-notch colts in the shape of Opera Ballo and Ten Bob Tony, but they may have to give best to Gstaad, who has found Bow Echo too good three times this season but has a fine opportunity to land another top-level contest with that rival now retired.
Horse To Watch
There can only be one choice here, with the return of Constitution Hill seemingly the only subject covered by the British racing press this week. The former Champion Hurdle winner has a lot to find on form but may be able to mix it here if the engine that saw him win his first ten starts over hurdles by a combined 104 lengths remains in full working order. Either way, it remains fascinating to see what this legendary hurdler – whose once electric jumping fell to pieces before our very eyes – can achieve in his flat career.
