Talking Horses: Madeleine Must the French threat in Sun Chariot Stakes

The French have made a habit of getting their retaliation in first on Arc weekend, by travelling over to Newmarket and winning the Sun Chariot Stakes five times in the past 10 years. This time the danger comes from the Nantes-area stable of Henri-Alex Pantall, whose Madeleine Must (3.25) looks underestimated at 16-1, or bigger with some firms.

She showed a fair level of form early in the season but was a revelation on her return from a summer break, powering past quality rivals to land a Listed prize at Longchamp last month. The young filly looks a serious threat to the solid but unintimidating Iridessa who would otherwise be fancied to follow up her Leopardstown victory.

1.40 Newmarket The well-related Eva Maria predictably benefited from a step up in trip on her handicap debut and still has a bit in hand on this rating.

2.00 Ascot The admirable Dakota Gold probably needs testing ground to show his best at five furlongs, so these conditions can help him to a fifth success of the year. His winning run came to an end at Newbury last time but he showed no sign of having had enough for the season and is preferred to Tis Marvellous, who was disappointing last time.

2.15 Newmarket Under The Stars is the right favourite, having shown she is not far behind the very best fillies of her generation, but there might be more value in an each-way play on Bond’s Boy. A scopey sort, he made up a lot of ground to score on his debut in August and should have a lot more to give.

2.35 Ascot A much better horse on this kind of ground, Morando may be able to give weight away to all his rivals. They include four last-time-out winners but all must do more to match Andrew Balding’s grey.

2.55 Redcar Even in such a big field of unexposed youngsters, it is hard to resist the claims of Summer Sands, who was beaten by just two lengths in the Middle Park last weekend and now drops to Listed level. Richard Fahey’s colt has also shown he can cope with soft ground.

Newmarket 1.40 Eva Maria 2.15 Bond’s Boy 2.50 Man Of The Night 3.25 Madeleine Must 4.00 Captivated 4.35 Melburnian 5.10 Warning Fire 

Redcar 1.45 Camouflaged 2.20 Lightning Attack 2.55 Summer Sands 3.35 Mitchum Swagger 4.10 Breanski 4.45 Olympic Conqueror 5.20 Fairy Stories 

Fontwell 1.50 Luck Of The Legion 2.25 Gleno 3.00 Chapmanshype 3.30 Cervaro Mix 4.05 Minella Beat 4.40 Brown Bear 5.15 Winter Getaway 

Ascot 2.00 Dakota Gold 2.35 Morando 3.10 Kynren (nb) 3.40 Cape Byron 4.15 Tapisserie 4.50 Alaadel 

Wolverhampton 5.30 Skating Away 6.00 Inflamed 6.30 Abwaaq 7.00 Kahala Queen 7.30 Power Link (nap) 8.00 Turanga Leela 8.30 All Points West 

3.10 Ascot It is two years since Kynren got his head in front but he has won plenty of prize money and this could be the day he finally gets a share of the glory. He was beaten only by the well-handicapped Cape Byron in the Victoria Cup over this course and distance in May and was then first home on the wrong side in the Hunt Cup. A stiff seven furlongs on soft looks ideal for him and he may hold off the John Gosden-trained improver, Casanova.

3.40 Ascot Returning to the scene of his Wokingham success can do the trick for Cape Byron, who looks the form standout on this drop into Group Three company. The July Cup didn’t work out for him but he showed more at York last time. Tabdeed is going the right way but has more to do against such a rival.

source: theguardian.com