SCOTIA ON THE WEEKEND!!

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Good evening to the CLAN and what a weekend we have in store.

On Sunday Clan Classique makes her race track appearance and although the distance is rather short, its just great to have her starting to run and we hope for a fun time during her racing career.
The concept of putting together a syndicate with guys that have never met and including a couple from overseas and first time owners is fantastic.

We have the competition with Freeracer starting on Monday and thanks to Hollywood/Hollybucks for putting up the prizes and coming up with the challenge.

In addition our Summer Cup competition starts on Monday and this one courtesy of Interbet and Blackpearl and this is a prize we all want to win and even if you cant attend on the 29th Nov. consider who you could make happy by donating it to a worthy cause, could be the Horse Care Unit or Teasers, whatever turns you on?

The soccer from blackpearl/sportingweb still going strong, although scotia well down the table.

The highlight for me this weekend should be the meeting from Longchamp on Sunday [Ngong permitting?].

Plus don't forget that Captains Lover is running on Saturday and we wish Barry and the team all the best.

We have 5 grade one races on the Sunday.

Prix De L'abbaye where "Merchand D'or" has to beat our "National Colour" over 5 furlongs,

Prix Marcel Boussac where "Again" is going for a 4 timer.

Prix Jean-luc Lagardere [Grand Criterium] where the unbeaten "Mastercraftsman" is unbeaten after 4 runs.

Prix De L'opera where O'Brien has "Ice Queen" and "Moonstone" and Stoute has "Heaven Sent" in a very difficult race.

Then the ARC, well I cant say anymore about "Zarkava" and I expect it to win well from Duke of Marmalade and Soldier of Fortune on her way to greatness?

I have a quiz night on Friday evening, so have to study.

Good punting and may your God be with you.

scotia

Will put my 5 BOB on the girl just cause i can.

Was planning trip to Little Nigeria/ To Hell and Gone(Vaal) for the 1st run but will have to watch on Nicolodeon this time round.

Will cheer her home even if not near the front.

Morning Sylvester maybe 2.5 bob e.w? Hope to catch you soon.

For the latest on the ARC, Zarkava still 7/4 and Duke of Marmalade and Soldier of Fortune around 4/1/


AN absolute downpour in Paris apart, Duke Of Marmalade seems likely to take his chance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.

Aidan O'Brien has voiced his concerns this week about the Longchamp turf turning very soft, but he said this evening it remained the intention to run the five-times Group 1 winner together with stablemate Soldier Of Fortune.

Johnny Murtagh has been booked for Duke Of Marmalade, with Seamie Heffernan on Soldier Of Fortune.

O'Brien told At The Races: "We are hoping the ground will be OK. The forecast looks for some showers but that would not be too bad so we are hoping we do not have to make any decision.

"He'll be fine on good ground or the slow side of good, something like that, but we are hoping it is not extreme.

"He is a very good horse, very tough and very consistent in all his races. The lads do a great job with him. He's just a very, very good horse really.

"Soldier was a very good horse last year,he was very impressive in the Irish Derby and won his Arc trial. We felt that just maybe the Arc came a little bit quick after his trial as he tries very hard in his races.

"The plan was always to start early, give him a summer break and come back for autumn campaign.

"It is very hard (to split them). We think they are two top horses and we have been happy with both since their last runs. Duke's wins have mostly have been on fast ground, while Soldier is a very good moving horse so handles ease in ground.

"If we get a nice surface, or the slow side of good, I don't think it will be a problem.

"Johnny has ridden Duke in his five Group 1s this year and has never been beaten on him. It was not too difficult a decision if the ground was rightfor him. He can't ride both of them and at declaration time it looked like the ground would be good, and it still could be.

"It might go on the slow side but I don't think that would be too much of a problem."

Asked about the opposition, O'Brien added: "Zarkava is obviously a very good filly. There are a lot with very high-class form in the race, a lot you could pick out.

"The Arc is a tough race, there is a strong pace and it is a horse who gets the trip well and with not many holes in them on the day."

Zarkava's trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre has admitted concerns over his star filly's inside draw in the mile-and-a-half spectacular.

Unbeaten in her six starts, with the last three at Group 1 level, the Aga Khan's representative is set be sent off a short-priced favourite but will break from stall one at Longchamp.

While pleased with her preparation since winning the Prix Vermeille, Royer-Dupre would also prefer conditions not to soften further.

"It (the draw) is not ideal," he said. "As several races will already have been run, and taking in to account the rain which is forecast, I am afraid that this piece of ground will have deteriorated.

"I would not like for it to rain on Sunday morning. Zarkava is capable of running well on a soft track but I would prefer good ground."

Zarkava is bidding to become the first female since Urban Sea in 1993 to win France's most prestigious race.

The trainer continued: "It is her first time up against the colts and we could not have picked a tougher race in which to do it, she is really racing in great company.

"On Sunday she will show if she is a very good horse or just a good horse. As you would expect, it is a very competitive race.

"However, one thing shehas shown us in her races this year is that she has a very impressive turn of foot but this is much tougher competition than what she is used to.

"We will just have to wait and see if she is up to it.

"It was strangethat she was left in the stalls in the Vermeille because she had never done anything like that before, at home or on a racecourse.

"The good thing was that she did it in her prep race and not in the Arc itself.

"She looks very well and worked well earlier in the week."

The Longchamp track measured 3.3 (good to soft) on Friday after 3mm of rainfall over the preceding 24 hours.

"The ground should not change much despite the scattered showers which are forecast," explained Thierry Delegue, France Galop's assistant general manager. "A good to soft track should satisfy everyone."