11.15am Favourite Taghrooda drawn high in Arc de Triomphe
Tony Paley: Taghrooda will have to overcome a high draw draw if she is to justify favouritism in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.
The winner of the Epsom Oaks and the King George will start from a wide berth in stall 15. The runaway winner Treve was successful from the same stall a year ago, but you have to go back to Dalakhani (stall 14) in 2003 to find the last winner to triumph from a horse drawn 10 or above.
Roger Varian’s St Leger winner Kingston Hill has an even worse draw having to break widest of all from stall 20. Aidan O’Brien’s Chicquita may also have difficulties from stall 18, while her stable companions Ruler Of The World and Tapestry are better placed in six and eight respectively.
This year has been largely forgettable for Treve, but she is well drawn in stall three, as is the strongly fancied Ectot in the middle of the field in stall 10. Japanese raiders Just A Way, Harp Star and Gold Ship are in stalls 14, 12 and 2 respectively.
Unbeaten filly Avenir Certain is drawn nearest to the rail in stall one, which can also prove a tricky place to start while the final British participant, Al Kazeem, will come out of stall seven.
Friday’s best bets, by Tony Paley
It’s October and ‘firm’ is still in the description which might not be welcome news for trainers and others wishing to run horses on ground with a bit of cut, but is usually in the punters’ favour with the results more predictable than when the ground gets heavy at this time of year.
The best bet of the day is at Ascot where the progressive Telmeyd (3.05) gets the chance to atone for what looked an unlucky reverse at the track in the Shergar Cup in August. The booking of Ryan Moore is a bonus.
Rembrandt Van Rijn (7.50) has gone close on his last two runs but he can finally break his duck in the Stay At The Wolverhampton Holiday Inn Maiden Stakes at Dunstall Park.
Sent off favourite on his last two outings, the David Lanigan-trained runner went down by just over three lengths when stepped up to a mile and a half on his latest appearance. The step back to 10 furlongs should be in the selection’s favour and he has the form in the book necessary to take care with his opponents tonight.
Tipping competition - Final day
Our winners so far:
Monday
Queens Park 14-1
Haadeeth 7-1
Baron Run 13-2
Tuesday
Tarvini 8-1
Pitt Rivers 20-1
Native Falls 9-2
Wednesday
Donny Rover 5-1
Brekabale 4-1
Mon Brav 12-1
Thursday
Speedy Writer 11-2
Dark Wave 4-1
Ogbourne Downs 16-1
We are set for an exciting conclusion to this week’s contest after paragoncup found two winners yesterday and Mulldog chipped in with the 16-1 shot in the final race of the competition yesterday. The current standings are: waltersobchak +32, paragoncup +31 and Mulldog +26.
This week, we offer a second (and final) chance to win a copy of the RFO’s Jumps Guide 2014-15, soon to be printed. As ever, it will be your pocket-sized guide to the new season, with stats, form, interviews, insights and tips galore. If you don’t win, you can buy it here.
Today we would like your selections, please, for these races: 2.00 Ascot, 3.05 Ascot and 4.15 Ascot.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
