Horseracing Betting Briefing October 4 to October 10: Europe's Finest on show at Longchamp

General / Andrew Hughes / 03 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

The stands at Longchamp will be packed for Europe's biggest flat race

"The talk ahead of this race has been all about Sea The Stars. Will he confirm his status as one of the all-time greats by winning the most prestigious flat race in Europe?"

The Flat season is drawing to a close but there is some important business to take care of first, including Europe's most prestigious meeting on the level and some eclectic racing at Tipperary. Andrew Hughes brings us the highlights of the racing week to come

Sunday October 4

Longchamp

12:45 Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp
The first of six Group Ones on today's card, this is run over five furlongs and open to all ages. This year's sole two-year-old representative is the busy Monsieur Chevalier but he will be up against some of the best sprinters around, including Fleeting Spirit, winner of the July Cup and Borderlescott who won the Nunthorpe last time out.

1:20 Total Prix Marcel Boussac
A Group One for two-year-old fillies over a mile that is sure to throw up a contender or two for Guineas glory next year. Bruno Grizzetti's Joanna is the pick of the entries but there are a number of potential stars on show, including Andre Fabre's Wedding March, a winner on her only outing, over this course and distance last month.

1:55 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardare
Richard Hannon's colt Dick Turpin bids to extend his undefeated record to five in this seven-furlong contest that has the reputation of being the most prestigious two-year-old race in Europe. Hannon's stable star will be competing against some of the best youngsters around, including Godolphin's Buzzword, winner of the Group Three Prix la Rochette last time out.

2:30 Qatar Petroleum Prix de l'Opera
A ten-furlong race of the highest quality that has attracted some of the best fillies and mares from around Europe, including Henry Cecil's Nassau Stakes winner, Midday.

3:15 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The big one. The talk ahead of this race has been all about Sea The Stars. Will he confirm his status as one of the all-time greats by winning the most prestigious flat race in Europe? The ground is not likely to be a problem for him, nor is the galloping twelve furlongs but there are some decent horses lining up in opposition. The biggest threat is likely to come from Fame and Glory, currently [9.2] in the antepost market and Conduit [11.0] and Cavalryman [16.0] are likely to have their supporters.

4:45 Qatar Prix du Cadran
A chance for the stayers to compete for a prestigious prize. Yeats disappointed in this race last year but Aidan O'Brien will be hoping his popular eight-year-old can set the record straight this time round.

Tipperary

3:25 Concorde Stakes
An eclectic Tipperary meeting is dominated by some top class jumping action but does include this Group Three flat race over seven-and-a-half-furlongs, for which Edward Lynam's Park Stakes winner Duff is the pick of the entries

3:55 Friends of Tipperary Hurdle
A Grade Two event over two miles and the small field assembled for this one includes some progressive hurdlers, the most interesting of which is Cheltenham Supreme Novices winner Go Native, making his seasonal debut.

4:25 O'Dwyer Steel Like-A-Butterfly Novice Chase
An interesting Grade Three, with a small field of novices going to post and though there are no superstars amongst the entries, these events are always worth watching for future winners.

4:55 Tipperary Supporters Club Joe Mac Novice Hurdle
Another small field for this Grade Three event but there are some interesting types entered, including Henry de Bromhead's Loosen My Load, undefeated in two bumpers and winner on his hurdling debut.

Saturday October 10

Ascot

2:15 Willmott Dixon Cornwallis Stakes
A Group Three over five furlongs for the speedier two-year-olds.

2:55 Willmott Dixon Bengough Memorial Stakes
A six-furlong race that replaced Newmarket's Bentinck Stakes in the Pattern programme and that attracted a decent field for its inaugural running last year.

3:30 Ladbrokes.com Stakes
A valuable Heritage Handicap over twelve furlongs for punters to get stuck into

4:40 Jaguar All-New XJ Autumn Stakes
This Group Three race for two-year-olds has a good record for producing stars of the classic generation and last year's winner, Kite Wood, went on to finish runner-up in this year's St Leger.

York

3:10 Coral Rockingham Stakes
This Listed race for two year olds is back at York after a temporary relocation to Ayr last year and is always worth watching for future stars.

3:45 Coral Sprint Trophy
A typically competitive Saturday betting event, this traditional late-season sprint is likely to attract a big field.