Champions Day is the weekend feature and a number of eyebrows were raised when Jack Hobbs missed the Arc to be fresh for Ascot over a trip two furlongs shorter than he has tackled in his last couple of starts. I think we now know that John Gosden felt the Irish Derby winner couldn't beat Golden Horn and he looks the one to beat in the feature next weekend. He is currently 11/8 at BetVictor and will be very hard to beat.
Air Force Blue put up one of the best performances seen by a juvenile in many a long day when running away with the Dewhurst at the weekend and he is odds on 4/5 with BetVictor to win the 2000 Guineas next spring.
A valuable and competitive 7f handicap is the feature at Leicester today and the hope is that Tom Dascombe's Hillbilly Boy (3.20) will appreciate the return to this trip having run a cracker when third in the Ayr Silver Cup over 6f last month.
The Dascombe yard could hardly be described as firing on all cylinders but the selection is lightly-raced this season and his previous third behind Richard Pankhurst was a decent effort. Birdman has been revelation for David O'Meara this season winning five times but he only beat one home in the Cambridgeshire last time and has been on the go since April.
In the finale Sur Empire had the worst of the draw at Beverley last time and once again has been done no favours on the wide outside but she should appreciate the step up to 10f for the first time. She must go close but the vote goes to another 3-y-old Ttainted Love (5.50) who looks to be improving with her racing and represents the inform yard of Chris Wall.
At Huntingdon there is a decent Handicap Chase over 2m 4f; Red Tortue is a winning pointer and will be fit and well for his chase debut under rules but Allow Dallow (3.40) is another who could easily leave previous hurdling form behind now chasing for Jonjo O'Neill.
The selection cost six figures after winning a p-t-p in his native Ireland and receives 7lbs from the Longsdon runner. He is lightly-raced for an 8-year-old and could be well handicapped for his chase debut.
Great Hall finished third at York off a mark of 97 in mid-summer and is a fascinating hurdling recruit having left John Quinn having finished last at Chester on his penultimate run. He must go close as must the dual French Bumper winner Baratineur for Dan Skelton but Alysan (4.40) won both his Bumpers for Seamus Durack last season and is fitted with a hood and a tongue tie for his hurdling debut. If he learns to settle he might be a very exciting horse for the yard and he gets the vote in an excellent maiden hurdle.
In the opener Breaking Bits is likely to be popular for Jamie Snowden having run well following a long lay-off at Uttoxeter last month but if Spa's Dancer learns to settle he could be extremely well handicapped off his current mark. This easy 2m is what he needs and trainer James Eustace has fitted him with a hood to help him relax.
Spending Time (4.10) is 4lbs worse off with Vendredi Trois for the 2L he beat that rival at Stratford last time and is taken to confirm the form on this better ground. The selection will surely be sent chasing sooner rather than later but he is taken to follow up under Tom Scudamore.
American Hustle (5.30) did little wrong at Ayr last time and, after a string of decent efforts, can finally get her head in front for Brian Ellison. The filly has finished second on her last three starts but is well drawn and this extended 7f trip looks her optimum.
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