National Hunt racing: Three horses to watch this weekend 28th & 29th September
The focus of our attention will switch to National Hunt racing within the next few weeks but there’s plenty of quality Flat action to look forward to before that. There’s Group race-action on both Saturday and Sunday and it should be an exciting weekend.
Here we pick out our three strongest selections across the weekend which could be worth following. These include one for Aidan O’Brien in the Beresford Stakes, which he has won 21 times since 1996.
National Hunt racing: 2.25 Newmarket (Saturday) – Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1, 6f)
There are two Group 1 winners amongst the field of eight and one would imagine the heavy ground is going to be a significant factor here. The two French raiders won’t be inconvenienced by conditions but Ger Lyons’ Babouche is still expected to come out on top.
Unbeaten in three starts thus far, she absolutely bolted up on good to yielding ground on debut at Cork and those are the softest conditions the daughter of Kodiac has encountered so far. It will be very different here but she’s a classy filly and can come out on top once again regardless.
We know she stays at least half-a-furlong further and that will stand her in good stead for this test. Holding off the challenge of the useful Camille Pisarro over an extended 6f in Group 3 company next time, she showed a good attitude to win by half-a-length.
Her best effort to date came in the Phoenix Stakes when last seen where she comfortably got the better of Whistlejacket. That horse boosted the form by scoring in the Group 1 Prix Morny subsequently and Babouche is therefore the one they all have to beat here.
National Hunt racing: 2.35 Curragh (Saturday) – Beresford Stakes (Group 2)
Aidan O’Brien has a ridiculous record in this race, winning it a whopping 21 times since 1996. He has also won 12 of the last 15 renewals which undoubtedly makes him the man to follow. Of his two runners this year, Trinity College makes the most appeal.
He looked clueless on debut here over 7f in June and was always going to learn plenty from that experience. It was a better effort when fourth at Leopardstown over a mile next time but it was obvious that the penny hadn’t quite dropped.
The son of Dubawi and dual-Guineas heroine Hermosa then put those efforts way behind him when demolishing the field at Galway earlier this month. Making virtually all of the running that day he pulled further and further clear to score by 12 lengths and a similar effort here should be enough.
National Hunt racing: 2.40 Curragh (Sunday) – Weld Park Stakes (Group 3)
Heavens Gate could be the one to side with here as O’Brien’s filly has plenty of experience and ability.
She won a valuable Sales race at Naas on her penultimate start and that form surely puts her right in the mix for this target.
Not beaten far when third in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, the form of that race has worked out well and she was only a length behind stablemate and winner Fairy Godmother.
Her pedigree suggests the step up in trip could suit and whilst she’ll need to improve on her latest below-par run, O’Brien’s juvenile is definitely better than that effort suggests.
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