Sam King is back with four selections on an action-packed Saturday.
There's something for everyone on Saturday and we certainly aren't short of punting opportunities, with high-class action from Newmarket, Ascot, Redcar and of course Longchamp, who kick off their Arc weekend meeting with an excellent undercard which features plenty of British contenders.
The feature of the day at Newmarket sees proven Group 1 winners Fallen Angel and Cinderella's Dream take each other in the BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes (2.40). Their claims are there for all to see but I don't think they set a particularly daunting standard for the rest to aim at, albeit they are Group 1 winners.
Fallen Angel hasn't massively convinced me this season and with Cinderella's Dream perhaps better on quick ground, I'm happy to side with the progressive Lady Of Spain.
Trained by Roger Varian, who has had to be patient with this talented filly, Lady Of Spain certainly earned a step up to Group 1 level when making a successful reappearance and turf debut in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes at Sandown last time out.
That effort came off a lengthy reappearance, so it's not hard to think she can take another step forward here, while it was tough not to be impressed with how she travelled off the pace before picking up to strike for home up the Sandown hill.
Unbeaten in five outings to date now, it's impossible to gauge where her ceiling may lie and she might well prove up to the task.
1pt Win – Lady Of Spain
Odds – 4/1
The second wager from racing headquarters comes in the valuable 150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes (2.05), where Half Sovereign is taken to stretch her unbeaten record to five.
Trained by the master of the north, Karl Burke, she has looked ultra-progressive this season, rising through the ranks with novice wins at Ayr and Yarmouth before making a successful nursery debut on the July Course in August.
The daughter of Ten Sovereigns took her form to a new level when running out a commanding winner of a useful-looking nursery at Doncaster's St Leger meeting, shaping as though she was only doing enough out in front to keep the challengers at bay in the final furlong.
That's always a trait that suggests there could be more to come, and she can take this step up in level in her stride to extend the winning sequence.
1pt Win - Half Sovereign
Odds – 9/4
Over at Ascot, the best bet looks to come in the shape of Rosario, who deserves to get his head back in front in the Ascot Racecourse Supports Berks County FC Handicap (4.10).
The Roger Teal-trained runner has been unlucky not to get on the scoresheet this season. He ran an absolute blinder when fifth here on Shergar Cup day having completely blown the start due to an inexperienced rider failing to pull the blind off in the stall. He'd have won with any amount in hand if getting away on terms that day and unsurprisingly, he went straight into the tracker following the unlucky effort.
Again he missed the break, although through no fault but his own, before keeping on into an eye-catching third at Goodwood on his next outing and unfortunately it wasn't the end of his eye-catching efforts this season as he found himself on the wrong side of the track when running on strongly to finish a close-up third in a competitive Portland Stakes at Doncaster last time out.
The form of the Portland took a nice boost when the fourth Run Boy Run landed the Ayr Gold on his next start, while Apollo One looks set to be sent off favourite for a Group 3 on the same card this afternoon.
Cieren Fallon is one from four on the horse and he may be able to work the oracle, with a 2lb nudge up the weights and soft ground also no bother for this gelded son of Harry Angel.
1pt Win – Rosario
Odds – 3/1
Redcar's William Hill Two Year Old Trophy (3.20) often lacks a bit of quality and in all truth, it looks to be the same case this season.
There's usually a standout performer in the line-up and this year it looks to be Song Of The Clyde, who fairly sets the standard with his official rating of 100.
Clive Cox's juvenile took a big step forward to land the valuable sales event at York's Ebor meeting before bumping into a nice filly in a similar race at Doncaster last time out.
A sizeable colt by Sergei Prokofiev, he looks versatile regarding both trip and ground, while it's possible there could be plenty more to come as he continues to progress with racing.
This looks like a good bit of placing by Clive Cox and while the stable form (0-20 in the last two weeks) is a slight concern, this colt gets the vote to make his class prevail.
1pt Win – Song Of The Clyde
Odds – 9/4
