Horse Racing Betting Tips: Classy Chimes to put the Wind in Fabre’s sail
WITH the eyes of the racing world firmly fixed on Paris and Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting, it’s a bit rich that the French trainers want to come over here and plunder the UK’s only Group One prize this weekend.
But that’s exactly what they’ve been doing in recent years in the Sun Chariot Stakes (3.15pm).
It was Rod Collet who set the ball rolling in 2009 when his Sahpresa caused a 16/1 shock by beating 1000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati.
Sahpresa went on to record a historic hat-trick of successes in this race in 2010 and 2011, before Francois Doumen got in on the action the following year with Siyouma.
Les Bleus then let the home team have some scraps until Andre Fabre landed the 2015 edition with Esoterique.
Since then a degree of normality has returned with Aidan O’Brien scooping up the last two renewals, but it’s that man Fabre who could be taking the prize back over the Channel in time for Arc day.
WIND CHIMES, ironically owned by the Coolmore team, has always been highly regarded, although she made a somewhat inauspicious start to her three-year-old campaign.
A reappearance Group Three defeat on heavy ground at Longchamp could be forgiven, and she then ran a decent race to be a close third in the French 1000 Guineas behind Teppal.
However, another failed Group Three assignment at Chantilly in June was more difficult to excuse, with the questions starting to stack up.
Since then things have been much more positive. She bolted up in a Group Three at Deauville in August, before going down by just a head to Recoletos in the Group One Prix du Moulin at Longchamp last month.
That is really strong form and Fabre is always to be feared when sending one over to the Rowley Mile, which he describes as the best racecourse in the world.
Laurens is greatly respected and has never been given the credit she deserves considering she’s won four Group One races.
She won the Fillies’ Mile here last year and was a close second in the 1000 Guineas, so she’s going to be very hard to beat.
Veracious is improving, while Clemmie has always promised to win a decent race, but Wind Chimes has the strongest form in the book and 5/2 is a fair price.
It’s a competitive-looking card at Ascot where the Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2.25pm) features a small yet select field of five runners.
First Eleven is Coral’s 11/8 favourite having won a decent course and distance handicap impressively last month.
However, this is a step up in grade and I’m not sure his form entitles him to be the price he is.
Communique has won his last two and is one of those typically busy Mark Johnston horses who is improving quickly, but this is another notch up the ladder for him too.
I’m going to take a chance on LARAAIB in first-time blinkers for the back in-form Owen Burrows yard.
The son of Pivotal was an excellent second to Poet’s Word in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes on his reappearance and he’s had excuses for his two disappointments since then.
He’s unexposed at 1m4f, the yard is back in form and headgear is applied for the first time, so he looks a fair bet at 9/2.
Ripp Orf did this column a favour last month when winning the Cunard Handicap over course and distance, but I’m going to reluctantly take him on with the horse who finished second that day in the Challenge Cup (3.35pm).
Roger Varian’s CAPE BYRON has produced three fantastic efforts in top handicaps since being gelded in June and he really deserves to get his head in front.
Although he’s been going up in the weights without winning, he can still be competitive from his mark of 103 and won’t mind any rain that falls.
His draw in stall eight gives David Egan options and he should be backed at 6/1 with Ladbrokes.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Laraaib 2.25pm Ascot
Wind Chimes 3.15pm Newmarket
Cape Byron e/w 3.55pm Ascot