Greyville not for the faint-hearted
THERE is one certainty at Hollywoodbets Greyville today! If you catch any of the exotics you are sure to make a decent profit on a card that is not for the fainthearted.
A mixture of Maidens and lowly handicaps is a recipe for good retur ns for those that do their homework but there will be plenty of casualties on the way.
There is not a single stand-out in any of the eight races, all on the synthetic track, a point illustrated in the second race, opening leg of the Place Accumulator, where Computaform has marked all nine runners as possible winners.
However, Accidental Tourist is showing signs of life again after being tried in cheek pieces and although the mare is carded to carry the steadier of 63kg, Duncan Howells has booked 4kg claiming apprentice Thabiso Gumede and the mare is on her favourite surface.
Georgina Rose surprised on debut but won well enough to suggest that she is capable of further improvement and may be a threat while Raymond Danielson is down to ride for Alyson Wright so Someone Exciting, who was not too far back against much stronger last start, can also finish prominently. Howells could be in line for a quick double as he saddles Coldhardcash in the third.
Talented but with issues the gelding is quick and can follow up on his recent victory when just holding on over course and distance.
Royal Rustler
Royal Rustler has his peak run after returning from a lengthy break and his two runs back have been promising.
Into the Future has shown promise and makes his seasonal debut and does appear to have some scope. One to watch is recent maiden winner Dispicable who landed a nice touch on debut.
Although a late starter, making his debut as a four-year-old, he made it look easy and from a plum draw, he could be anything and again is one to watch in the market.
In the fourth, Andre Nel sends out Crimea who makes her local debut. She comes with some promising Cape form and may be the one to beat. She takes on some modest company where Preferential could prove the pick.
Wright’s filly was a beaten favourite last run but takes to the poly for the first time and the extra furlong should suit. The fifth is another wide open handicap but Gibraltar Green has been barking at the door for some time now and it could open today. He was narrowly beaten at his last three and goes well over course and distance.
He is due a change of fortune. Deposition has been in two tough races since his maiden win and the form of the last was franked on Sunday with Favour winning again. Techno Captain is never far back of late and stays the trip while Liverpool Champ was a recent maiden winner but does look to have some scope and his supporters will be hoping that he can emulate the soccer team he was named after.
Sheza Rockstar
The sixth is another lowly fillies and mares handicap but Sheza Rockstar was not far back when stepped up in trip last outing and from a good draw can go one better.
Lowan Denysschen is having a run and Such A Rush could prove the pick of his two runners as she is back over her preferred distance and the stable has hit form.
What A Blast is back on what looks to be his preferred surface and will have his supporters in the eighth. He has been in good form since shedding his maiden and took on stronger last time out.
Legend has a big weight but is overdue another win after showing consistent recent form while Gimme A Cohiba, Nicklaus and Gimme Peace are all big runners in another difficult handicap.
Dean Kannemeyer comes off a fourtimer on Sunday and Arrabiata came round off the meeting with Marry In Haste, having her first run for Nathan Kotzen, Miss Missourie and Sacred Blues all threats. THE likely field for Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe became a little clearer on Monday after 16 runners, including dual winner Enable, were left in contention for Europe's richest race following the first forfeit stage. The opposition standing in the way of Khalid Abdullah's superstar mare and her bid for a historic third win in the race has been reduced, although there is a supplementary stage today.
Irish Champion Stakes winner Magical has chased home Enable three times in the last year, most recently in last month's Yorkshire Oaks. She is one of three left in the race for Aidan O'Brien, with Juddmonte International winner Japan and Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck completing his trio.
The last time a French-trained horse won the Arc was Treve in 2014 and Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass heads the home challenge this year for Jean-Claude Rouget, with last year's fourth Waldgeist, Musis Amica, French King and Silverwave also in the frame.
Wide-margin Grosser Preis von Baden winner Ghaiyyath has been kept in the race by Charlie Appleby and Godolphin, while Enable's trainer John Gosden could also be represented by Mehdaayih.
The winner of the Arc has never been trained in Japan and their challenge consists of Kiseki, Blast Onepiece and Fierement.
Nagano Gold
Czech sensation Nagano Gold, who finished second in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, and German raider Matchwinner complete the 16 after the first forfeit stage. Four-time winner Olivier Peslier believes only a wide draw, and bad luck in running that can ensue, will stop Enable making history on Sunday.
Peslier, the doyen of the French weighing room, won Arcs on Helissio in 1996, Peintre Celebre in 1997 and Sagamix in 1998, before adding a fourth victory on Solemia in 2012.
Only Enable's partner Frankie Dettori, who already has six Arcs to his name, has ridden more winners of the race among those who are currently licensed, and Peslier is not without hope of a fifth success on Sunday on the much improved fouryear-old French King.
But Peslier, 46, who nowadays commutes to the Paris tracks from Bayonne, near Biarritz, and was racing at Toulouse on Monday, is a huge admirer of the Khalid Abdullah-owned Enable.
Assessing the chance of a hat-trick, he said: "It's never been done before, of course, but if I can't win the race myself I'm hoping that Enable does. It would be historic for the race itself, and great for the filly, for Frankie, and also for the Prince. "Khalid Abdullah is one of the few owners, like the Wertheimers with Goldikova, who keeps his good horses for racing instead of finishing them once they win a big race and leave us to wonder what they might have achieved. It's what the fans want, and there will be many of them at Longchamp to see Enable."
Asked what might stand in Enable's way, Peslier was inclined to point to the circumstances which might conspire against her, such as the draw and luck in running, rather than the opposition.
He said: "A wide draw would not be helpful, as it's difficult to come from the back at Longchamp, especially on good ground like we had on Trials Day, when the winners were all coming from inside draws, but Enable has the power to go anywhere, and otherwise I see no problem.
"She is a lovely filly, and she's very tough. She won last year despite having had a little setback, and she has looked even better this year. She is very strong, and no matter how hard a race she has, she always comes back and never seems tired. She is very impressive in every way."
While Peslier believes French King can be competitive, he fears Enable will have too much class, and if that is the case he will be very happy to see Dettori win again, since the Italian is one of his oldest weighing room friends. However, while Dettori is renowned for his sang froid, Peslier believes this time it will be different, even if the outcome is the same.
He said: "Frankie will feel the pressure for once on Sunday, because there's more at stake than ever before. Even so, I think that after the race Longchamp will be erecting a statue of Enable to stand alongside the one of Gladiateur."
Enable is the general Sottsass next best at 6-1.
8-11
favourite with Japan and
Arc betting (general):
8-11 Enable
6 Japan, Sottsass
10 Magical
12 Ghaiyyath, Waldgeist
25 Fierement
33 Anthony Van Dyck, Blast Onepiece
50 French King, Mehdaayih, Musis Amica, Nagano Gold 66 Kiseki
100 Matchwinner, Silverwave
– racingpost.com