Ed Quigley has a long-term look with his Antepost Armchair column to begin the week, while Fridays are all about the biggest weekend action, covered in Ed’s Weekend Watch column.
Throughout the year, make sure you check out the thoughts of Ed Quigley on Freebets!
:quality(70)/res.cloudinary.com/xlmedia-alpha/image/upload/v1677149776/Salesforce_Logos/BetVictor/BetVictor_Logo_2023-02-23T10-56-11.png){kind=logo}
Bet £10 on Horse Racing, Get £50 in Free Bets
Terms & Conditions Apply- Unique ‘Betfinder’ Feature
- Bet (winnings) calculator
- Live racing, replay of all UK races & plenty racing promos
Ed Quigley Antepost Armchair - Tuesday, October 3
We are at the business end of proceedings as far as the Flat season goes; The Arc has come and gone (where the fast ground did for Hukum’s chances), and Champion’s Day is on the horizon. This Saturday, sandwiched between both is Newmarket’s Group 1 card, containing the top-level contest, the Sun Chariot Stakes over 1m. Looking at the antepost market, there is no escaping from the fact that the race revolves around Inspiral - and rightly it should.
Officially rated 118, she is the class act and has plenty in hand over her potential rivals in this encounter. Coming into this fresh will also help, as John Gosden has gone on record to say that she doesn’t like a busy schedule, so this break should have done her the world of good. However, I do wonder if she is a bit temperamental for all that she has lots of latent ability.
She bombed out on Champions Day last year, and when she was turned over at 1/7f in the Falmouth last summer connections, she ‘ran flat’ and ‘the ground was as quick as she would want it.’ Then you have the almost contradicting terms from connections when they said that ‘underfoot conditions were too Soft’ after she trailed home last of five in the Sussex Stakes.
She bounced back since, but given her tendency to blow hot and cold, she looks too much of a risky proposition at the prices, in my view. So, instead, I will roll the dice with the Aidan O’Brien-trained MEDITATE. Last year’s winner at the Breeders’ Cup and in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, she hasn’t found her stride as a 3-year-old but has mainly spent the campaign chasing the backside of Tahiyra or struggling on unsuitably soft ground.
Clearly, she hasn’t kicked on as one would have hoped, but looking at the weather forecast, there is every chance she will get her favoured fast ground. If, for whatever reason, Inspiral spits the dummy out, the Ballydoyle representative could be the one to cash in, as she should find this a lot easier than some of her most recent assignments, and I think many of the market protagonists would prefer some cut in the ground.
Aidan O’Brien will be looking for his fourth win in the race, and a minor upset could easily be on the cards.
Advice:
Meditate, Sun Chariot Stakes, Saturday October, 7 - 1pt win 10/1
:quality(70)/res.cloudinary.com/xlmedia-alpha/image/upload/v1650901211/Salesforce_Logos/Bet365/Bet365_Logo_2022-04-25T15-40-05.png){kind=logo}
Sun Chariot Stakes - Meditate
Meditate looks an excellent each-way bet in the Sun Chariot
Newmarket
October 06, 2023
3:15 pm GMT+1
Ed Quigley’s Antepost Bets
- Gala Marceau, 12/1, 2024 Mares Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival Tipped 21/09/23
- Marie’s Rock, 16/1, Stayers’ Hurdle, 2024 Cheltenham Festival Tipped 26/09/23
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
About Ed Quigley
Ed Quigley grew up just outside Cheltenham & spent over a decade with the Racing Post, where he was best known for his Longshot Column, RPTV and as a weekly columnist in the Racing & Football Outlook.
Now a Freelance Broadcaster and Journalist, he is a regular on Sky Sports Racing and Ladbrokes TV, amongst other things.
He will be adding his insight for Freebets.com and, of course, naturally, will be the go-to guy for all things Cheltenham Festival related!
Currently, we have an Antepost Armchair article from Ed every Tuesday looking at the bigger picture and long-term plans for many horses. He also brings us his Weekend Watch on Friday, looking at the feast of action taking place over the weekend.
Bet £10 on Horse Racing, Get £50 in Free Bets
18+ New Customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on Horse Racing, 1/1+ odds in 7 days, no cash out. Get £50 in Free Bets on set markets valid 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. See below. begambleaware.org | Please Gamble Responsibly.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/xlmedia/0246b0be-1e7a-4f5f-a272-ef662a3fcc4c.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/xlmedia/JXT45BHOYZHO5ODU36EKULIFY4.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/xlmedia/H6GNL45DBVC3TP2ES3ADIIDSK4.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/xlmedia/HL4LNPU37VB43OPOUDL3JQQURA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/xlmedia/D27DLDIXHJHS3FHUU2U3FOISUE.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/xlmedia/BTJTTBAC5VEK3FPFUWW72OCJ64.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/xlmedia/7PZR2GGWPNFVHLXMKATFH34DZA.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/xlmedia/MMRPQAXOMVHTLH5JPJE2CTYMT4.png)