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Looked out for those with webbed hooves in Ireland
While we have been wrapped up in the hype of whether Gleneagles will be pitching up against Golden Horn in the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes, there is a danger we have overlooked a legend? Sat, probably wondering what all the fuss is about, is Corine Barande-Barbe and her Cirrus Des Aigles.
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Connections won't be fazed by Cirrus Des Aigles' three-year-old rivals - there is no longer the air of immortality surrounding them. Cirrus Des Aigles isn't fussed as to what ground he gets, he is experienced enough not to come with certain stipulations and instead he just wants to roll up his sleeves and get on with it.
As much as Golden Horn v Gleneagles is a contest to saviour Cirrus Des Aigles has taken on horses arguably greater - remember Frankel?
It's not a case of whether it will rain at Leopardstown - the question is how much?
With that in mind I've been looking for those who virtually have webbed hooves.
Maarek loves cut in the ground and the softer the better for him ahead of the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five on Sunday.
He is in good heart and I still can't believe how he picked up Line Of Reason in the Beverley Bullet!
Line Of Reason was tanking along at the same time Maarek was being scrubbed along and a furlong out all changed. Maarek will be running for me at the Curragh.
Nemoralia's win in the opener on Thursday at Doncaster emptied satchels and chipped into bookmaker reserves but at the same time her performance lifted the profile of Aidan O'Brien's filly Ballydoyle, who had beaten her at the July Course in Newmarket.
Ballydoyle is understandably a warm order for the Moyglare Stud Stakes on Sunday, when I wouldn't like to take her on and she was clipped in the ante-post markets on Friday!
There are Arc Trials aplenty on Sunday at Longchamp, all of which is live on Racing UK, and Her Highness, the undisputed queen of the turf Treve graces us with her presence.
The brave and courageous Arabian Queen will try to create more fairy tales, yet taking on Treve in her own back garden looks a tall ordrer despite her defeat in the same race 12 months ago.
In the Prix du Moulin Ervedya is the filly who appeals. She could have the race run to suit, where she can pick up off a fast pace. She owes me nothing after the Coronation Stakes, so why not pitch in again?
I could go to work on Saturday's Ladbrokes St Leger card, but until the exact rainfall amount is known at Doncaster I'm loathe to flag anything up. Storm The Stars deserves his Classic, as he has been so dependable and the ultimate ambassador for 2015. It would be nice to see the famous St Leger cap on Pat Cosgrave's head in the celebratory aftermath.
Over 30,000 are due to swarm through the gate and build the fabulous atmosphere; Doncaster is such good value when it's buzzing and vibrant.
In other matters I fulfilled another check on the bucket list when on Thursday I travelled down from Doncaster after racing to sit on a NFL preview panel alongside Channel 4 NFL presenters Nat Coombs and Mike Carlson. The latter is a commentator, pundit, analyst who I've admired for many years and to be sat alongside him left me a bit starstruck. Nat is just a bundle of fun, such a natural on the mic with quips rolling off the tongue yet at the same time very insightful.
It was a fabulous night with a great audience and the NFL boys are back, meaning my Sunday nights are gone until February at least!
Tanya Stevenson's weekend tips:
Saturday:
5.45 Leopardstown: Cirrus Des Aigles at 11-1
Sunday:
3.05 Curragh: Maarek
3.40 Curragh: Ballydoyle
Longchamp: Ervedya
Tanya Stevenson's Saturday pointers:
3.45 Doncaster - Ladbrokes St Leger:
Seventeen of the last 30 favourites have won
Eighteen of the last 20 winners finished now worse than third on their most recent start
Since 2000 five winners had run in the Gordon Stakes from 36 runners who attempted the feat – Medrano and Proposed
Both Ralph Beckett’s previous two runners have been placed - 2008 Look Here, 2013 Talent
Storm The Stars will be William Haggas’ third runner in the St Leger. His best finish was with Guarantee, who was seventh in 2012
This will be Pat Cosgrave’s first ride in the St Leger and the same applies for Umberto Rispoli and Fergal Lynch
Andrea Atzeni won the race with his debut ride in the race last year aboard Kingston Hill
Horses to have run in the Derby have won six times since 2003 but that has been from 32 runners – this year Storm The Stars
Nine horses have run in the Great Voltigeur and come on to win since 1997 from 53 runners
Of the last 18 Great Voltigeur winners to run, five have won Reference Point 1987, Bobs Return 1993, Milan 2001, Rule Of Law 2004, Lucarno 2007 – Storm The Stars
Since 1997 16 Great Voltigeur runners-up have gone on to run, only Snurge 1990, Silver Patriarch 1997, Brian Boru 2003 and Mastery 2009 have won – Bondi Beach
Aidan O’Brien has trained the winner four times from 32 runners across 15 years - Bondi Beach & Fields Of Athenry
Of the last nine Gordon Stakes winners to run four have won - 1998 Nedawi, 2000 Millenary, 2006 Sixties Icon, 2008 Conduit
The last filly to win was User Friendly in 1992
Since User Friendly won in 1992, 16 fillies have run in the race with five finishing runner-up and one third.
2.00 Doncaster - At The Races Champagne Stakes:
Only four favourites have won since 2000
Six of the last ten winners won on their most recent run
Frankie Dettori has won five times 2000 Noverre, 2001 Dubai Destination, 2002 Almushahar, 2009 Poet’s Voice, 2010 Saamidd
Eight of the last ten winners have gone on to run in the Dewhurst, none won at Newmarket
Seven of the last nine winners have gone on to run in the Qipco 2000 Guineas, Vital Equine got the nearest by finishing second
2.35 Doncaster - Ladbrokes Portland Handicap:
Only two winning favourites in the last ten years - six in the last 20 years
Eight of the last ten winners were no better than fifth in the betting
Only two winners since 2000 had won on their most recent start
Seven of the last ten winners of the Portland were drawn 12 or higher
David Nicholls last 31 runners have all been beaten
Nine of the last ten winners were aged no older than five
3.10 Doncaster - Saint Gobain Weber Park Stakes:
Eight of the last ten winners had run in a Group One
Eight of the last ten winners had already won over seven furlongs.
Five of the last nine winners had run in the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood
Eight of the last ten winners aged four or over
Ansgar is hoping to be the fourth horse to win the race in consecutive years
