Saturday Racing Tips: Rio the bet as Paris catches the eye

Longchamp Arc Meeting / Graham Cunningham / 30 September 2011 / Leave a Comment

Will Rio De La Plata add to his big race wins?

"It's hard to believe four years have passed since Rio De La Plata won a Group 1 juvenile event here but this striking chestnut has been a real trouper for Godolphin ever since and has looked as good as ever this season by finishing fourth, third and second in three of Europe's top mile contests."

Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham is heading for France on European racing's biggest weekend of the year but nevertheless has his eye on horses on either side of the Channel in part one of his Arc weekend blog.

B-Team can make the Redcar A-List
Trying to find a television showing British racing on Arc weekend is always a testing experience, but I'm hoping the hunt will be worthwhile this Saturday given the strength of sport on offer back in Blighty.

Ascot is strong but it's also a very complex card at a venue which I seldom approach with maximum confidence, so it's off to Newmarket and Redcar for a couple of horses with plenty to recommend them.

First up is Campanology in Newmarket's 13:50. Richard Hannon's colt shouldn't be too short in the market given the presence of Donny runner-up Mizwaaj.

Either way, Richard Hannon's colt has shown he's up to winning at this level several times - including on each of his last three starts - and a reproduction of his best should see him home with something to spare here.

Second up is Samitar in the valuable Tattersalls Millions 2yo Fillies' Trophy at 14:25. Mick Channon's filly is extremely well treated at the weights based on her fine second in last week's Fillies' Mile here and has to top the shortlist with impressive Newbury maiden winner Hazel Lavery nominated as potential saver material.

And third up is the B-Team - namely Bannock, Bogart and Bop It - in Redcar's featured Two-Year-Old Trophy at 16:00.

Bannock is the clear form choice based on two cracking efforts in Pattern company, while Bogart looked very smart in winning a hot York Sales race which is working out well and Bop It looks a dangerous floater based on the way he breezed to victory in a Hamilton nursery.

Bannock's nine-week absence is a slight concern but he has to top the shortlist with Bogart and Bop It holding clear potential as backup at longer odds.

* * *

Aigles and Rio can soar again on Arc weekend
Day one of Arc weekend is generally one of the hidden gems in the European calendar and Saturday's Longchamp card offers plenty worth watching even allowing that two of the four Pattern races have cut up to small fields.

The Prix Daniel Wildenstein at 15:15 and the Prix Dollar at 16:25 are the two races to focus on and Rio De La Plata and Cirrus Des Aigles appeal as the key players.

It's hard to believe four years have passed since Rio De La Plata won a Group 1 juvenile event here but this striking chestnut has been a real trouper for Godolphin ever since and has looked as good as ever this season by finishing fourth, third and second in three of Europe's top mile contests.

Rio De La Plata beat Rajsaman and Royal Bench fair and square when the trio chased home Excelebration in the Prix de Moulin over this course and distance three weeks ago.

Based on the way they travelled through the race that day, Rio De La Plata ought to beat those two again. And if he does then his prospects of another big Longchamp success will be very bright indeed.

There is no fancy story with Cirrus Des Aigles other than that he won the Prix Dollar emphatically last year and returns in even better form after three commanding successes in Group 3 and Group 2 company.

Granted, he has a 4lb penalty on faster ground and a posse of dangerous rivals like Byword, Famous Name and French Navy to contend with this time.

However, Cirrus Des Aigles does act on a sound surface. He also has a tremendous will to win and that zest could well see him home again en route to a probable tilt at Ascot's Champion Stakes.

Recommended Bets
Back Rio De La Plata in the 15:15 at Longchamp
Back Cirrus Des Aigles in the 16:25 at Longchamp
Back Campanology in the 13:50 at Newmarket
Back Samitar and save on Hazel Lavery in the 14:25 at Newmarket
Back Bannock, Bogart and Bop It in the 16:00 at Redcar