'She goes there with a great chance' - can Divina Grace maintain her progressive profile?
We often see a Group performer tackling this 1m4f handicap and that is Wise Eagle this time. Adam Nicol’s stable star split Coltrane and Trueshan in the 2023 Sagaro Stakes, prompting his going for gold in the big one at Royal Ascot.
He was outclassed in the Gold Cup and missed the rest of the campaign before returning with an underwhelming handicap effort at Newmarket last month.
A four-time winner over trips further than two miles, Wise Eagle has a different task on his plate at this sharper distance.
The pace angles are hardly jumping off the page. Perhaps it will be one of the Charlie Johnston-trained runners, with Knightswood (stall one) and Struth (three) each handily berthed.
Joe Fanning has won on both and partners Knightswood, whose unlucky third at Doncaster eight days ago implied he was ready to score again soon.
Richard Kingscote rides Struth and got an excellent tune out of him in a hot 1m6f contest here last July, a race for which he was always up with the pace and recorded his best Topspeed figure. His in-and-out profile suggests he is capable of bouncing back off a reduced mark.
The filly Divina Grace is on a beautiful arc of progression for Rae Guest and is probably the logical favourite.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders
Shepherd's delight?
A week after missing out on the ride on Ambiente Friendly in the Derby, Callum Shepherd takes a fancied mount in a lesser 1m4f contest but which appears similarly wide open.
Shepherd is booked for the Rae Guest-trained Divina Grace of whom he has plenty of previous knowledge, including when partnering her to win a handicap at Newmarket last September.
The four-year-old comes here match fit from a comeback third at Goodwood, and trainer Rae Guest said: "She ran a great race at Goodwood last month and we have been waiting for this quicker ground. She had top weight last time and is better weighted here. She looks to go there with a great chance."
What they say
Adam Nicol, trainer of Wise Eagle
He’d had nearly a year off when we ran him back at Newmarket last month where he was very gassy. He likes it at Musselburgh so we’re hoping going around a similar bend here will suit him better.
Hilal Kobeissi, trainer of Max Mayhem
We bought him at the Tattersalls February sales to have some fun with this year and hopefully this first run back will blow the cobwebs away.
David Simcock, trainer of Mountain Road and Melek Alreeh
Mountain Road has had a long time off and may need further than this but has form on fast ground. Melek Alreeh is in good shape and will enjoy the surface, it’s just a question of if he’s good enough.
Reporting by David Milnes
Read our Saturday previews:
3.30 Navan: 'She showed a great attitude to win' - key quotes and analysis for a strong Listed race
3.35 Haydock: 'Rock-solid' Noble Dynasty bids for Group-race breakthrough in John of Gaunt Stakes
Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.
Published on inPreviews
Last updated
- Watch: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe preview and tipping show with top tipsters Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- 4.00 Longchamp: Henry de Bromhead bids for first Group 1 with 'improving' Term Of Endearment in Prix de Royallieu
- 2.40 Newmarket: 'I think this will be her swansong' - Inspiral bidding to bow out at the top in Sun Chariot
- 3.00 Ascot: 'We've been waiting ages for soft ground' - can one of the sprint wildcards land Group 3 Bengough Stakes?
- Amateur rider goes for notable glory again and a course specialist returns to his happy place - punting pointers for Saturday
- Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe betting offer: bet £5 on race one at Longchamp and get £35 to bet on remaining races
- Premier League enhanced odds: 60-1 for Aston Villa to win or 80-1 for Manchester United
- When is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe? Latest odds and a £50 free bet with Coral
- Bag £485 in free bets and bonuses + get 60-1 boosted odds for Aston Villa to win or 80-1 for Man United
- Get a 30-1 odds boost for Arsenal to beat Southampton with Paddy Power
- Watch: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe preview and tipping show with top tipsters Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- 4.00 Longchamp: Henry de Bromhead bids for first Group 1 with 'improving' Term Of Endearment in Prix de Royallieu
- 2.40 Newmarket: 'I think this will be her swansong' - Inspiral bidding to bow out at the top in Sun Chariot
- 3.00 Ascot: 'We've been waiting ages for soft ground' - can one of the sprint wildcards land Group 3 Bengough Stakes?
- Amateur rider goes for notable glory again and a course specialist returns to his happy place - punting pointers for Saturday
- Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe betting offer: bet £5 on race one at Longchamp and get £35 to bet on remaining races
- Premier League enhanced odds: 60-1 for Aston Villa to win or 80-1 for Manchester United
- When is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe? Latest odds and a £50 free bet with Coral
- Bag £485 in free bets and bonuses + get 60-1 boosted odds for Aston Villa to win or 80-1 for Man United
- Get a 30-1 odds boost for Arsenal to beat Southampton with Paddy Power