Saturday 10 October 2015 15:46, UK
Alex Hammond answers the five big questions ahead of the weekend's action.
1: What did you make of the performance of Golden Horn to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - and the ride of Frankie Dettori?
Sometimes you have to watch the replay of a race to see what went well and who would have done things differently given a second chance to ride the race again. I watched Frankie with admiration as the Arc unfolded; it was a ride of pure genius and a plan that came together beautifully.
Dettori and Gosden are proving to be a partnership to rival Torvill and Dean, Redgrave and Pinsent, Starsky and Hutch, Lennon and McCartney; they click. They look like a perfect example of opposites attracting, a top team.
Gosden joked about the Derby winner's wide draw before the race, but rather than wallow in disappointment they hatched a plan. I remember Willie Carson executing a similarly brilliant strategy in the 1995 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Bahri. It was a plan that came off as he raced wide under the trees before coming across and eventually beating odds on favourite Ridgewood Pearl.
Whilst the circumstances were different that day it was similar initiative that won the day. That race was 20 years ago, but it's indelibly printed in my memory because of its sheer brilliance and Dettori's ride on Golden Horn will most likely do the same.
As for the horse, Dettori heaped much of the praise on Anthony Oppenheimer's talented colt. He showed brilliance and versatility and appears to be improving with racing. This was no average Arc, there were some top class horses in behind, including Treve, who may have finished closer had Thierry Jarnet had the chance to ride the race again. I for one can't wait to see Golden Horn run at Keeneland in the Breeders' Cup, let's hope he gets there at the end of this month.
2: Can Gosden and Dettori pick up another Group One with Nathra in Friday's Fillies' Mile?
The fact they have supplemented her for this race speaks volumes, but this won't be an easy task. Dettori loves this filly, but this will be her stiffest task to date. Both her runs have come on soft ground and it looks like it will be good for Friday's race, but that shouldn't be an issue. Nothing has come out and run from her latest Newbury win, but her maiden win at Salisbury has been franked, albeit by a long odds on shot on soft ground. She's all potential but the step up to this trip looks right up her street.
There's no doubt the testing ground helped Minding in the Moyglare, but the form was given a boost when runner-up and stablemate Ballydoyle came out and won the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp last weekend. Saeed bin Suroor's Promising Run is another improver and comes here having won the Rockfel at Newmarket. Unlike Nathra, we know she will handle the undulations on the Rowley Mile having won at the track last time and she gets my vote; she's a 5/1 shot with Sky Bet.
3: A mouthwatering clash in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes - are you with Air Force Blue or Emotionless - or are we in for a surprise?
I can't wait to see who wins this one! It's a real battle of the big guns as two of the leading colts from Britain and Ireland vie to be Champion Two-Year Old. It's a case of deciding if you want to side with the proven top level form with Aidan O'Brien's dual Group One winner Air Force Blue, or go with the potential of Godolphin's unbeaten colt Emotionless.
He steps up to the highest grade for the first time after a win in Doncaster's Champagne Stakes for Charlie Appleby where he looked potentially seriously exciting. Both colts are leading contenders for next year's 2000 Guineas with Air Force Blue ante-post favourite at the moment at 4/1 with Sky Bet.
Whoever wins this gets bragging rights over the winter and I think it will be Coolmore's turn this time with Air Force Blue. The manner in which he beat Herald The Dawn on ground deemed too soft for him was impressive and he should be much happier on the sounder surface he will get on Saturday.
4: Ryan Moore and Tony Martin team up with Quick Jack in the Cesarewitch - how do you rate his chances? What else catches your eye in the race?
Ryan has come back from his serious neck injury as good as ever, but he'll have to be at his best to win from his wide draw on Saturday. He was third off 94 last year from a good draw and off 7lbs higher, even with the brilliant Moore in the plate, he'll have to get all the luck.
A more likely winner for Quick Jack's trainer Tony Martin is Heartbreak City as the draw has been much kinder and he will come out of box nine. He's 9lbs higher in the weights for an impressive win at York last time out and he has obvious claims.
Of the others, Low Key is the likely favourite for David Pipe having won the trial here three weeks ago, Tom Marquand takes 3lbs off once again. He appears to stay well nowadays and has improved over jumps during the summer.
Sir Mark Prescott usually has a good bash at winning this and his best chance could come with William Of Orange who is well drawn in seven. He isn't over exposed only having had 11 starts to date and the trip looks ideal, he's one for my shortlist.
Renneti is an interesting contender for Willie Mullins and Jamie Spencer, he is drawn in 18 which shouldn't be insurmountable, but he has his quirks and has looked less than reliable in the past. He has plenty of ability should he choose to use it, but bombed out when well backed at Leopardstown last time out. It's as tough as ever and I'm going with Heartbreak City at 10/1 with Sky Bet.
5: The National Hunt season steps up a gear at Chepstow on Saturday. Do you have a jumper to follow for readers?
I tell you what, I'll give you three! An obvious choice, but a horse that has a great chance of winning some of the leading staying chases, is the Gordon Elliott-trained Don Cossack. He's a 5/1 with Sky Bet for the King George and 7/1 for the Gold Cup after his wins in last season's Melling Chase and Punchestown Gold Cup. He's entered to run in a Grade Three at Punchestown in the middle of this month (a race he won last year) and in the Grade One JNWine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal towards the end of the month. He's a horse I love.
I also have a couple of horses that could be worth following in the novice chase category. The first is the Willie Mullins-trained, JP McManus owned Alvisio Ville. The grey came over from France with a huge reputation but despite that, he failed to sparkle on the big stage over hurdles, but he could be a different proposition over fences given a bit of ease in the ground. He wasn't beaten too far by Nichols Canyon and Windsor Park in the Grade One Deloitte in February and that form looks strong.
My other pick is Free Expression, another Elliott inmate. He worked his way up the ranks with an Irish Point-to-Point win, a Bumper success, before a winning debut in Maiden company over hurdles before stepping up to win a Grade Two over timber. He wasn't disgraced on his final start in a Grade One at Naas in January and he looks the type that will come into his own over a fence. I can't wait for the jumping to get underway and this weekend's Chepstow meeting is always a turning point when the flat begins to wind down and the jumping steps out of the shadows.
