Free horse racing selections for Sunday October 7
Ashley Iveson can't see past an Enable double in the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday - he previews all the action home and abroad.
Nap: Enable (3.05 ParisLongchamp)
Double: Lady Frankel (3.50 ParisLongchamp)
Enable looks very difficult to oppose as she goes in search of a second successive victory in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
John Gosden's filly capped a stellar campaign with a stunning display in Europe's premier middle-distance prize at Chantilly a year ago.
That triumph added to top-level wins in the English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks, as well the King George, ensuring she ended 2017 as the undoubted queen of the Turf.
It ranks as a huge disappointment that she has missed much of this season through injury, after owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah so sportingly kept her in training as a four-year-old.
However, that absence may turn out to be a blessing in disguise as far as her Arc defence is concerned, as she at least returns to France a fresh horse, whereas plenty of her rivals may be battle weary at the end of a long year.
It was clear Enable had lost none of her brilliance when proving a different class to Crystal Ocean in the September Stakes at Kempton, and Gosden has had a month to get ensure his filly is in peak condition for her return to the top table.
There have been seven previous dual winners of the Arc and Enable will create her own piece of history if she can follow suit, as she will become the first horse to claim the prestigious contest at the newly-redeveloped ParisLongchamp.
Battaash is also expected to successfully defend his Arc-day crown in the Prix de l'Abbaye. There is little doubt the Charlie Hills-trained gelding is the best five-furlong sprinter around when on his A-game.
The son of Dark Angel blitzed his rivals in Paris 12 months ago and it was a similar story on his penultimate outing at Goodwood.
He failed to reproduce that performance in the Nunthorpe last time out, but he also disappointed at York last season. While Battaash perhaps just does not like the Knavesmire for whatever reason, it could also be that he is better with a bit of time between his races and he returns to France on the back of a decent break.
If he is back to his best, the rest are surely playing for places.
The first of six Group Ones on the card is the Prix Marcel Boussac, which can go the way of Ireland and Aidan O'Brien in the shape of Pink Dogwood, while the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere looks booked for Freddy Head's unbeaten colt Anodor.
Andre Fabre seems sweet on Lady Frankel in the Prix de l'Opera, and it is easy to see why as his filly came home as well as anything to be third 12 months ago.
The Prix de la Foret revolves around the Head-trained Polydream. Her form stands up to the closest scrutiny.
Domestically, Vaniteux may have ultimately failed to reach the expected heights but he can prove he is no back number just yet with victory in the NSPCC School Service Handicap Chase at Kelso.
The nine-year-old looked a potential star during his younger days with Nicky Henderson, finishing third behind Vautour in the 2014 Supreme before going on to strike Grade Two gold as a novice chaser.
However, his progress somewhat arrested after that and he was moved on from Seven Barrows in May 2017, joining David Pipe's team for a princely sum of £125,000.
Vaniteux was understandably kept among the higher ranks last term, but a luckless period saw his rating tumble from a starting point of 158 to the 135 he lined up off at Perth last month.
Third on that occasion over three miles, the combination of the longest distance he had contested under rules combined with a four-month absence perhaps told at the finish, but it was nevertheless an encouraging effort.
Dropped a further 1lb by the handicapper, a mark of 134 back over this two-mile-one-furlong trip makes Vaniteux a very attractive proposition, with the ground also set to be in his favour.
Rocky's Treasure can make a perfect start to his career over fences in the Libra Novices' Chase. The seven-year-old was a point-to-point winner back in 2016, going on to sell for £60,000 and join Kim Bailey, for whom he plied his trade admirably over hurdles, winning twice and placing at Listed level.
He lost his way a bit after that and only started to bounce back in the spring, with his Warwick fourth in May representing a decent effort. It seems an opportune moment to raise his sights to fences now and Rocky's Treasure can meet the challenge.
Lil Rockerfeller is another who is switching disciplines and it will be a bit disappointing if he is not right in the mix in Uttoxeter's Gordon Horner 85th Birthday Beginners' Chase.
Neil King's runner was a multiple Graded winner over hurdles and came within a whisker of top-level success a couple of seasons ago, notably in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham.
He demonstrated his well-being - and served a reminder of his class - when absolutely romping home on the level at Goodwood back in August, coming home a comfortable 15-length victor. King reports Lil Rockerfeller to have been schooling well at home and while this is no penalty kick, the seven-year-old should be up to the task.
Zamparelli can pick up where he left off in May by winning the Marston's Warsteiner Handicap Chase.
He scored twice over fences earlier in the year, winning a modest handicap at Stratford in style before following up in a better contest at Market Rasen.
While he only prevailed by a length and a quarter in Lincolnshire, Zamparelli was hardly all out in the finish and could still be ahead of the handicapper despite his 7lb rise.
It is an exciting day in Ireland with Arctic Fire ready to roll back the years in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Tipperary. He is now in the care of Denis Cullen after a successful stint with Willie Mullins and the change of scenery has given him a new lease of life judged on his recent easy victory at Cork.
Mullins himself can also be on the mark, with Dorrells Pierji on a four-timer in the Joe Mac Novice Hurdle, while Camelia De Cotte can graduate to Grade Three glory in the Like A Butterfly Novice Chase.
Sporting Life tips:
PARISLONGCHAMP: 1.20 Pink Dogwood, 1.55 Anodor, 3.05 ENABLE (NAP), 3.50 Lady Frankel, 4.25 Battaash, 5.00 Polydream.
KELSO: 2.20 Rocky's Treasure, 2.50 Man Look, 3.25 Rock N Rolla, 3.55 Aye Right, 4.25 VANITEUX (NAP), 4.55 Falcos, 5.25 Jack Lamb.
TIPPERARY: 1.40 Edessann, 2.10 Dream Walker, 2.40 Chief Ironside, 3.15 Arctic Fire, 3.45 Dorrells Pierji, 4.15 Minella Times, 4.45 Camelia De Cotte, 5.15 Kalum River.
UTTOXETER: 2.00 Never A Word, 2.30 Zamparelli, 3.00 Foxtrot Juliet, 3.35 Vinegar Hill, 4.05 Lil Rockerfeller, 4.35 Generation Gap, 5.05 Polished Rock.
DOUBLE: Vaniteux and Lil Rockerfeller.
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