Fine Form
Division AS – 3.00
can gain due reward for some excellent efforts at the highest level this season with victory in the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes at Ascot.
There is quality racing across the country on another busy Saturday, not to mention the top-class fare on offer in France, where Division’s trainer William Haggas has Maltese Cross primed for action in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Division has yet to get his head in front for the Somerville Lodge handler this term, but he has run some excellent races in defeat, most notably enjoying podium finishes in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.
The Wathnan Racing-owned sprinter has less on his plate dropping back to Group Three company and with the ground suitably quick, it will be a little disappointing if he is unable to make the most of what looks an excellent opportunity to strike gold.
Haggas fires a twin assault on the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes, with popular veteran
Al Aasy AS – 2.25
preferred to his five years younger stablemate Tenability.
Al Aasy might be in the twilight of his excellent career at the age of nine, but a first win at Group Two level in the Grand Prix de Deauville on his most recent outing proved his ability and enthusiasm remain very much intact.
A 5lb penalty for that win does make life tough against younger legs, but as long as there is a decent pace on he should still be there or thereabouts.
The £180,000 BetMGM Challenge Cup is as competitive as ever and at the odds it is worth siding with George Boughey’s
Moonfall AS – 3.35
Winner of the Britannia Stakes at the Royal meeting in June, the three-year-old is now 11lb higher in the weights off a lofty mark of 101.
However, he ran a fine race to finish second off 99 at Doncaster three weeks ago, beaten just three-quarters of a length by Scoville after encountering a troubled passage to suggest there is still some mileage in his current rating.
It is impossible to look beyond
Blue Bolt NM – 1.35
as she bids to extend her unbeaten season in the BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.
Andrew Balding’s star mare has taken her game to another level since finishing best of the rest behind Fallen Angel 12 months ago, winning each of her five starts in 2026 including a hat-trick of Group One wins.
She was never more dominant than when landing the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown last month and should make it six from six back on home soil.
Night In Vegas NM – 1.00
is similarly difficult to oppose in the £200,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s juvenile has already won valuable sales races on the July course and at Doncaster and sets a very high standard as he looks to take his earnings past the £500,000 mark on the Rowley Mile.
There are a couple of Listed races to enjoy at Redcar in the William Hill Two Year Old Trophy and the John Smith’s EBF Stallions Guisborough Stakes.
Clive Cox’s
Satellite Of Love re – 3.20
is an obvious contender for the first of those after pushing Night Of Vegas close on Town Moor three weeks ago, while the Charlie Hills-trained
Elarak re – 3.55
will not be winning out of turn if he can land the second after some good runs at this level.
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