Black-Type Analysis: Can Kind Of Blue Upstage Lazzat At Haydock?

[Wandering Eyes]

Saturday, Haydock, post time: 15:35, THE BETFAIR SPRINT CUP-G1, £427,000, 3yo/up, 6fT

Field: Annaf (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence), Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), James's Delight (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}), Kind Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), My Mate Alfie (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Run To Freedom (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Ain't Nobody (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}), Big Mojo (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}), Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), No Half Measures (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Rage Of Bamby (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Sayidah Dariyan (Ire) (Dariyan {Fr}), Sky Majesty (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Time For Sandals (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}). Reserves: Nighteyes (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

TDN Verdict: With the weather having changed dramatically across Europe in recent days, the initial feel of autumn is in the air and with it perhaps a shift in the fortunes for some of summer's luminaries. Lazzat's Royal Ascot heroics mark him out as the one to beat, but the way he was brushed aside attempting back-to-back wins in Deauville's Prix Maurice de Gheest suggests this is not cut and dried. The July Cup heroine No Half Measures has to do it all again, but is still unexposed at this trip, while the Commonwealth Cup winner Time For Sandals is up against her elders and has something to prove. Sky Majesty hails from last year's winning stable and is a filly being brought to a peak at the right time, having mastered two competitive Irish sprints, while last year's runner-up Kind Of Blue at last gave us something to hold on to after his lacklustre spring and early summer campaign. Third in the Phoenix Sprint, he has to up his game again, but we know what he is capable of from last year and it is worth remembering that James Fanshawe won this with his relative The Tin Man in 2018. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Baden-Baden, Germany, post time: 16:25, T VON ZASTROW STUTENPREIS (BADENER STUTENPREIS)-G2, €70,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT

Field: Egina (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), North Reliance (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}), Tanami Starlet (GB) (Best Solution {Ire}), Weltbeste (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Innora (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}), Lady Charlotte (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), Nyra (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}), Santagada (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Westminster Stud's G3 Diana Trial victrix Lady Charlotte found it tough going against the boys when relinquishing her unblemished record in July's G1 Deutsches Derby and returned with a fifth in last month's G1 Preis der Diana. She was just over a half-length adrift of closely matched runner-up Innora and third home Nyra, but a half-length in front of Santagada, in that Dusseldorf Classic and will be a warm order to regain the winning habit at the head of a strong sophomore band. Nyra had earlier denied Innora by inches in the G3 Hamburger Stutenpreis on the Derby undercard and both possess solid claims. Best of the older brigade is dual Listed winner Egina, who was last seen finishing third in July's G3 Preis von Lotto Hamburg. [Sean Cronin].

Saturday, Kempton, post time: 13:35, THE UNIBET SEPTEMBER STAKES-G3, £90,000, 3yo/up, 11f 219yT

Field: Candleford (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Tasmania (Ger) (Australia {GB}), Satavia (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}).

TDN Verdict: This should be straightforward for last year's winner Kalpana as she is geared towards an Arc tilt, especially after her barnstorming effort in the King George. Only the Hong Kong Vase hero Giavellotto offers any meaningful opposition if she is near her peak, coming off a break having run a touch disappointingly in the Coronation Cup. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Haydock, post time: 13:15, THE BEST ODDS ON THE BETFAIR EXCHANGE SUPERIOR MILE-G3, £85,000, 3yo/up, 8f 37yT

Field: Balmacara (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Checkandchallenge (GB) (Fast Company {Ire}), Ice Max (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Prague (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Excellent Believe (GB) (Make Believe {GB}), Fearnot (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Snow Master (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Zeus Olympios (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Suite Francaise (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Suite Francaise returns to the course and distance of her Listed Dick Hern Stakes win and is one of a group of three-year-olds with perhaps some more up their sleeve. They include the unbeaten pair Snow Master and Zeus Olympios, who both face an entirely new challenge tackling the Summer Mile fourth Make Me King. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Kempton, post time: 15:10, THE UNIBET SIRENIA STAKES-G3, £70,000, 2yo, 6fT

Field: Beckford's Folly (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Egoli (GB) (No Nay Never), First Legion (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Five Ways (GB) (Kameko), Ninth Crusade (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Rogue Supremacy (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Sirius A (Ire) (Palace Pier {GB}), Super Soldier (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Chicory (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Sayidah Hard Spun (GB) (Ubettabelieveit {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Charlie Appleby always likes to bring a nice type to this race and Beckford's Folly has confidence high following two Newmarket novice wins. Andrew Balding has a strong team of juveniles and puts forward the impressive Salisbury novice winner Five Ways, while Super Soldier is the one with Pattern-race form, having finished second in Chantilly's Prix Robert Papin. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Haydock, post time: 13:50, THE BETTING.BETFAIR ASCENDANT STAKES-Listed, £40,500, 2yo, 8f 37yT

Field: Bourbon Blues (GB) (Space Blues {Ire}), Bow Echo (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Glacius (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), He's Waliim (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Publish (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Shayem (Ire) (King Of Change {GB}), Tailgunner Joe (Knicks Go), Midnight Tango (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Impressive at Newbury on debut last month, 'TDN Rising Star' Bow Echo takes on Juddmonte's exciting Publish in an encounter that could have an impact on next year's Classic picture. The latter was forced to miss the Solario last week and the Gosdens obviously hold him in high regard given their record in that Sandown contest. Newmarket winner Glacius is another with abundant potential in a fascinating affair. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Craon, France, post time: 17:25, CRITERIUM DE L'OUEST – PRIX DU HARAS DE BOUQUETOT-Listed, €54,900, 2yo, 8 1/4fT

Field: Command The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Agiota (Fr) (Birchwood {Ire}), Good Bye Manu (Ire) (Almanzor {Fr}), Zambezi (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Honey Pearl (Fr) (Lucky Team {Fr}), Canena (Fr) (Ulysses {Ire}), Meisho Sugar (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Waiting For You (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Eight contenders head postward with winning form and, in the absence of Dodge City, Mauricio Delcher Sanchez trainee Agiota has found an opening to better his runner-up finish in July's Listed Criterium du Bequet tackling six furlongs at Bordeaux's La Teste. George Scott's in-form stable came close to annexing Wednesday's G3 Zukunfts-Rennen with Commander's Intent and is represented here by dual-winning York nursery runner-up Command The Stars. Anita Wigan's clear-cut Vittel winner Zambezi was narrowly denied over this trip at Vichy last month while Satoshi Kobayashi entry Meisho Sugar is on the upgrade and returns off a three-length maiden triumph at Vichy. Of the remainder, Good Bye Manu boasts a decent level of form and is not without a chance. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany, post time: 15:25, WETTSTAR.DE – 155TH GROSSER PREIS VON BADEN-G1, €300,000, 3yo/up, 12fT

Field: Alleno (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Cold Heart (Brz) (Alpha, Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), Path Of Soldier (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}).

TDN Verdict: This contest has lost much of its lustre with the defection of G1 Deutsches Derby hero Hochkonig and Godolphin's globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Rebel's Romance. Their absence provides an ideal opportunity for last term's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Goliath to regain the winning habit after an uninspiring last-of-five in June's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and a second in last month's G3 Prix Gontaut Biron. Laat year's runner-up and April's G1 Tancred Stakes victor Dubai Honour returns to European action for the first time since November and rates a serious threat. Last year's Deutsches Derby fourth Alleno and this year's fourth Path Of Soldier head the home defence. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 15:50, QATAR PRIX DU MOULIN DE LONGCHGAMP-G1, €800,000, 3yo/up, 8fT

Field: Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Go To First (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Serengeti (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Richard Hannon has yet to win this contest and is represented by Rosallion, winless in four Group 1 starts this year, and his Group 3-winning stablemate Persica in a hot renewal. Aidan O'Brien is three-handed, with jockey bookings and form suggesting G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Henri Matisse as the obvious stable preference. Last term's Poulains runner-up Dancing Gemini, who has finished behind G1 Lockinge Stakes hero Lead Artist twice this year, was ahead of Japan's Go To First when third in last month's G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. Domestic hopes rest with outsiders Sahlan and Alcantor. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:25, QATAR PRIX VERMEILLE-G1, €900,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT

Field: Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Ginalyah (Ire) (Chachnak {Fr}), Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}).

TDN Verdict: This mouthwatering distaffers' clash plays host to G1 Prix de Diane heroine Gezora eyeballing G1 Pretty Polly Stakes and G1 Nassau Stakes victrix Whirl. The former was one length too good for Whirl's stablemate Bedtime Story in the Chantilly Classic and should confirm form with the Ballydoyle back-up, who has failed to fire on all cylinders in two subsequent starts. Christophe Ferland trainee Aventure, runner-up in this and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was last seen finishing second in June's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and is an obvious danger. Survie has plenty to find with Aventure and Whirl on recent form and returns to action coming back off a second in last month's G1 Prix Jean Romanet, while Ginalyah's presence is baffling. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany, post time: 14:00, 92ND BRUNNER – OETTINGEN-RENNEN-G2, €70,000, 3yo/up, 8fT

Field: Best Lightning (Fr) (Sidestep {Aus}), Geography (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Glady Tiger (Ger) (Zoffany {Ire}), Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Penalty (Ger) (Frankel {GB}), Short Final (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Zabiari (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Quebec (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}).

TDN Verdict: This open renewal is at the mercy of the Francis Graffard-trained G3 Prix Bertrand de Breuil victor and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois seventh Zabiari. He encounters last year's winner Penalty, who has failed to fire in five starts since, the four-time Group 3 winner Geography and the consistent veteran Best Lightning, who is set to make his fourth start in this contest. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 14:33, QATAR PRIX FOY-G2, €119,000, 4yo/up, 12fT

Field: Almaqam (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Cheeky Boy (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}), Mont St Michel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Arrow Eagle (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Byzantine Dream (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}).

TDN Verdict: Arc Trials Day, brought forward one week this year, commences with the older horses taking centre stage over the main event's 12-furlong strip. Last term's G2 Prix Niel winner and Arc fourth Sosie has annexed this term's G1 Prix Ganay and G1 Prix d'Ispahan and will head postward coming back off a close-up sixth in July's G1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown. May's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup victor Los Angeles is on a recovery mission after unplaced effort's in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes and G3 Royal Whip and will be chaperoned by stablemate Mont St Michel. Almaqam, Map Of Stars and Arrow Eagle all rate as dangers, while Japanese raider Byzantine Dream takes a step into the unknown coming back off a second in May's G1 Tenno Sho Spring. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:00, QATAR PRIX NIEL-G2, €119,000, 3yo, 12fT

Field: Leffard (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Cualificar (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Swagman (Ger) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Parachutiste (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Nitoi (Siyouni {Fr}), Aftermath (Ire) (Justify), Tennessee Stud (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Gerard Augustin-Normand and Antonio Caro's G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Leffard sets the standard in a contest with eight runners for the first time since 2014. His main rivals are G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano third Cualificar and G1 Derby fourth Tennessee Stud, who has not been seen since running fourth in June's G1 Irish Derby. Aidan O'Brien has won this just once, with Soldier Of Fortune in 2007, and relies Swagman, who comes back off an extended break after annexing April's G3 Sandown Classic Trial. Andre Fabre has a record 12 editions in the books and sends forth the unexposed Nitoi for this year's renewal. [Sean Cronin].

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