Tipstar winner Katie Midwinter marks your card for Saturday's action at Ascot, Newmarket, and the Breeders' Cup!
2:30 Ascot: The Last Day
Last seen finishing third to recent Cheltenham winner Dancing On My Own when attempting to retain his Red Rum Handicap Chase crown, The Last Day remains on a rating of 135, 2lb higher than his win at Aintree last year, and he's gone well fresh in the past. Although he is likely to be one of the outsiders in this quality field, he has an excellent chance of making the frame at least and may be overlooked.
3.22 Newmarket: Warren Point
Warren Point drops in grade here following two efforts in Grade One company across the pond at Belmont Park. The son of Dubawi had previously finished second to 117-rated Russian Emperor, a subsequent Group One winner, in Doha following his Listed win in Bahrain, and holds leading claims if coping with the testing conditions on Saturday. His dam, Gaterie, was a winner on heavy ground, which provides hope he won’t be inconvenienced by the softer going at Newmarket. Charlie Appleby has been operating at a 40 per cent strike-rate in the past fortnight, and his gelding is in with an excellent chance of returning to winning ways.
8.30 Santa Anita: Shirl’s Speight
The Roger Attfield-trained Shirl’s Speight looks a big price here, especially considering he finished a close second to Modern Games, and ahead of Kinross, in this contest 12 months ago, and he has amassed over £1million in prize money during his career so far. Last seen finishing second to Master Of The Seas in the Woodbine Mile Stakes, he was hampered late on when mounting his challenge, which knocked him off stride and, although it’s unlikely he would have beaten the eventual winner, he may have finished closer with a smoother passage.
9.50 Santa Anita: Auguste Rodin
The Breeders’ Cup Turf, one of the most competitive races of the year, hosts a field of twelve contenders that have 21 Group One victories between them. Auguste Rodin has won four top prizes, including two Classic contests, the English and Irish Derby. The son of Deep Impact put his Ascot disappointment behind him when winning Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September and has been kept fresh since. The conditions of this race should suit him perfectly, and he is fancied to give trainer Aidan O’Brien a record-extending seventh win in this contest.