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Tanya's Blog - Saturday 6th October

There has been heavy rain in the south affecting Ascot and Fontwell Park, but not so much Newmarket. So pick a horse who stays and acts on testing conditions, webbed hooves, or those fitted with flippers would be ideal!

Be sure to look out for non-runners, which themselves will change the complexion of the races. Checking the exchanges through the night Edinburgh Knight was well supported as was Skilful and Jamesie. The latter surprises me as he isn’t the greatest fan of soft ground. I know he is my Daily Record selection but I could be left kicking myself for not having the foresight to consider the expected rainfall.

Garswood has won on heavy so it was no surprise to see him shorten to favourite and can’t be ignored in the Cornwallis. However horses who win that race generally come into it with a wealth of experience, five or more races is the norm. But seeing the conditions will suit it will be silly to ignore him.

As for Longchamp on Sunday don’t forget the coverage will be hosted by Sally-Anne Grassick and Nick Luck, live on . Kick-start the Group One action with a winner in the Prix de l'Abbaye, with Mayson. You need a horse who races close to the pace and Mayson dominated the July Cup in heavy and I can see him doing the same at Longchamp.

As for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, there will be much discussion in the lead-up but as I was pouring over the imponderables for various runners, my thoughts kept being drawn to Camelot. I looked over my laptop for inspiration and asked my father, who he thought would oblige, and rather than go into long-winded reasoning, he said quite simply, Camelot. Good enough for me. Why ask my father? He knows French racing well.

What A Name should cement her place at the top of the 1,000 Guineas market and soon after the Arc coverage I can turn to blanket NFL!

Are we surprised that greyhound racing is not on the agenda in the future for Wimbledon? No, and if the sport was, then its further proof those in charge were in denial! For years now greyhound racing has been plodding on not wishing to listen to those who warned them. When I sat on the racing committee, it was nothing but frustrating as there was no planning to save the sport for situations like this.

Many have advised, even begged, those in charge to prepare for worst-case scenarios in finding alternatives when track closures are evident. Looking for new sites, asking for extra meetings at existing courses, just acting in a proactive manner. Brett Capaldi has been one example of someone behind the scenes working tirelessly to do just that, with no help or assistance from the authorities.

For all its worthwhile exertions Save Our Stow sadly hasn’t resurrected greyhound racing, all the expense and time could have been put into finding another suitable site! Save Plough Lane may be reduced to a whimper as it also seems it doomed. Where for the Derby, St Leger, Oaks? There’ll be massive speculation. What should be debated is where does our sport go now?

Sponsors poured an incredible amount of money into Wimbledon to galvanise the Derby, yet when attending the meeting simple things were ignored. No soap in the toilets etc. The greyhound racing authorities sat back and watched as the likes of Dave Lawrence beat the sport’s drum with Sky Sports - his brother Clive produces the greyhound channel. Blood, sweat and tears from David Hood with various PR stunts, all the bookmakers who continue to pump money in to keep it alive. Martin White with GOBOTA and Ricky Holloway with Save Our Stow.

I sit from the sidelines to watch the demise of a best friend - Come on greyhound industry heads get your act together!

Today's Selection:

2.00 Ascot Garswood

3.35 Ascot Jamesie

12.55 Longchamp Sunday Mayson

3.25 Longchamp Sunday Camelot

Tanya's Pointers

All of the last ten winners of the Cumberland Lodge have come from the first two in the betting

Marcus Tregoning has had four winners from his last six Cumberland Lodge runners – today Hawaafez

Eight of the last ten winners were aged three or four

John Gosden has had five winners from his last seventeen runners

Eight of the last ten winners of Ascot’s 3.35 have been no older than five

Bryan Smart is attempting a fourth straight win in Ascot’s 4.10

Three-year-olds have won eight of the last ten Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes

Eight of the last ten winners of the Arc won on their most recent start

Nine of the last ten Arc winners came from a single figure stall