Inspiral to reign supreme at Newmarket?
The main event at Newmarket on Saturday is the Sun Chariot Stakes. This famous race was first held on the Rowley Mile back in 1966 and Inspiral is the odds-on favourite to claim the fifth Group One prize of her stellar career in this year's renewal.
2023 Sun Chariot Stakes Odds
2023 Sun Chariot Stakes Tips - Random Harvest
Inspiral will be hot-property when she eventually retires to stud, having won Group Ones at two, three and now four. Frankie Dettori enjoyed one of the most emotional legs of his farewell tour when Inspiral won the Jacques Le Marois at Deauville back in August and she'll likely to be very hard to beat on Saturday, on what could be Dettori's penultimate fixture at Newmarket.
Despite her victories over the past two seasons, Inspiral has thrown in a stinker or two, which makes me reluctant to back her at 10/11. Mqse De Sevigne is the obvious alternative, but a mile on good ground could be a little sharp for her. Meditate ran an encouraging race at Leopardstown last time out, but she's had a fairly poor season and doesn't hold much appeal at 7/1.
With a lack of other front-runners in the field, I'm tempted to have an each-way punt on RANDOM HARVEST. Ed Walker's mare has enjoyed a solid season so far, having won the Valiant at Ascot after narrow defeats in both the Princess Elizabeth and Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
Random Harvest was well beaten when she dipped her toes in Group One waters in the Falmouth, where she could never get to the front and endured a troubled passage through the race. It was a similar story for Saffie Osbourne's mount in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood last time out, where Random Harvest was bumped a couple of times as she tried to recover from a slow start and she looked uncomfortable on the camber of that unique track.
Walker's five-year-old has run well on the Rowley Mile a couple of times and a clear forecast should ensure that the ground is suitably good. A fast start will be essential for Random Harvest. If she breaks well and gets into a good rhythm out in front, she has the tenacity to hang on until the closing stages.
