- All times BST
The British and Irish jumps season really kicks into gear this weekend as the nights begin to draw in, with Cheltenham hosting its first fixture of the season as the build to the Cheltenham Festival next March begins.
It’s a low-key start at the Gloucestershire venue, however, so we will focus on the flat for now, with the highlight being of this weekend being the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (13:30) set to be run at Doncaster on Saturday. Some legendary horses have won this in the past, including High Chaparral, and Aidan O’Brien looks to have a fine chance of winning the race again with Noble Exhibit. This son of Frankel looks a stayer and should handle the heavy ground.
We have some potential Breeders’ Cup clues in the race, too, with Burning Up having finished behind the smart Juvenile Turf hope Haffner last time out. Indeed, Al Hubaida, who won the Summer Stakes at Woodbine when last seen, still holds a pre-entry in that contest. I’m not sure he can run in both races with the schedules as they are, but it’s slightly interesting that they’re running him here on soft ground as opposed to at Keeneland in a race that would appear to be a more natural fit.
O’Brien should have at least one winner on the card even if Noble Exhibit comes up short, with Bengal Tiger odds-on to win the Prospect Stakes (14:05). I wrote about this horse last week when before was withdrawn due to an allergy, saying I thought he looked a machine on soft ground when winning his Maiden last time and could be very good indeed. He gets that ground here and should dispatch these.
We have some fine action at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, with three Group 1 races on the card. The Prix Royal Oak (14:50) looks sure to be a test in the ground and might be a chance of the admirable Queenstown to finally record a Group 1 win. He’s placed at this level in his last 3 starts, including at Ascot last time, and is due a reward for his consistency. Al Nayyir, who bounced back to form at York last time, looks a danger, as does the progressive Chally Chute – he’s by a renowned soft ground sire in Fast Company and is unexposed over 2 miles.
We have further Breeders’ Cup clues in the Criterium International (12:23), with several of these having run behind hopes in the juvenile turf races. First Law was behind Haffner in the Royal Lodge last time out, while Alfred Wallace and Aix La Chapelle both finished behind the brilliant filly Amusingly in the Jean-Luc Lagadere – look for them to boost her form as she heads into a mouthwatering clash with Sun Goddess.
Finally, the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (13:33) is over 10 furlongs and will be a real test on the going for these young horses. Drumbeat, who looks a thorough stayer, should take some beating with his stamina proven, while Jesus Green, who was placed in the Group 1 Golden Fleece two back, looks a big danger having boosted his confidence dropped back to Maiden company last time.
