Oisin Murphy's mount See The Fire joins Tamfana as Sun Chariot favourite after sustained support

Punters have moved to support See The Fire in the Group 1 Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes (2.20) at Newmarket, with the mount of Oisin Murphy vying for favouritism with Tamfana following sustained support.

The exceptionally bred filly, who is by Sea The Stars and out of Jeff Smith's brilliantly tough racemare Arabian Queen, beat her elders and the boys in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes last time and has been backed into a general 11-4 chance.

She was a 7-2 shot with most firms last night and available at 4-1 yesterday morning but has now leapfrogged last year's winner Inspiral in the market to sit level with the Atalanta Stakes winner Tamfana, who was an unlucky fourth over this course and distance in the 1,000 Guineas in May. 

See The Fire was 12th in that race, but she has improved since and caught the eye when a neck second to Opera Singer in the Nassau Stakes on her penultimate start. Murphy is hoping the drying conditions on the Rowley Mile will suit.

"She won very well at York last time and seems to have come out of that well," he said. "She has experience of the track and finished third in the Fillies' Mile there last year. It was fast ground at York, so hopefully the ground continues to dry out." 

• Watch: Graeme Rodway, Johnny Dineen and Seb Sanders preview the weekend's racing on The Morning Post

The jockey rode a double from just three rides at Ascot on Friday and will partner Sunway in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.20) at Longchamp for Tamfana's trainer David Menuisier.

Racing Post Spotlight writer Richard O'Brien nominated See The Fire as his best bet of the day at Newmarket, where the going is good to soft after a drying 24 hours.

At Ascot, there has been a significant non-runner in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2.25) as Hamish will not take part due to the going. However, William Haggas still fields the market leader with the Glorious Stakes and Geoffrey Freer winner Al Aasy.

The trainer could be in for a successful day as he sends out Relief Rally in the Listed Rous Stakes (1.50) and Wiltshire in the Group 3 Bengough (3.00), as well as leading player Germanic and Brewing in the £180,000 Challenge Cup (3.35).

David O'Meara: trains Akkadian ThunderCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

In the latter, the David O'Meara-trained Akkadian Thunder was as big as 12-1 last night and has been cut to 7-1. O'Meara, who regularly strikes in the top handicaps, won the race two years ago with Escobar.

Akkadian Thunder has been a little hit and miss this year, recording form figures of 7102102, but was on a going day last time when catching the eye to finish second to Grey's Monument. 

That course-and-distance second came off just a 2lb lower mark and, granted a clearer passage this time, he should surely be on the premises. The booking of Jason Watson is also a positive as he won on him at Newcastle in May before finishing second on him at 22-1 at Redcar in June.

The four-year-old is still lightly raced after just ten runs and interestingly holds an entry in the Balmoral Handicap over a furlong further on Qipco British Champions Day. O'Meara also runs Bopedro, Mirsky and Rhoscolyn.

Others to be supported in the Challenge Cup include course regulars Popmaster and Rebel Territory. 

Non-runners

Newmarket
2.05 Morte Point, Afentiko

Ascot
2.25 Hamish

Read more . . .

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