In Swoop (advised @ 33/1) fails by a neck

Enable could only finish sixth in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in her bid to win the twelve furlongs event for a record third time. Frankie Dettori's mount had every chance inside the final quarter of a mile but the heavy ground blunted her change of gear as she faded late on. The race went the way of Sottsass who finished third in the race twelve months ago. Despite winning the Group 1 Prix Ganay during the summer, Jean-Claude Rouget's four year old hadn't recaptured his best form until now. However, he stepped up on his run in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last time to prevail by a neck. 

In Swoop, who was advised at 33/1 in the Autumn Update, ran a cracker in second. The German Derby winner would have benefited from a stronger early gallop and if Ronan Thomas' mount had had more room on the inside. The son of Adlerflug takes a bit of warming up before hitting top stride and that proved his undoing here. He is a strong stayer and probably would have won in another fifty yards. It was still an excellent run and, judging by the emails I received on Sunday afternoon, plenty of clients took the fancy prices ante-post. Thank you to those who have got in touch, it is much appreciated.

In terms of the jumping on Sunday, the County Hurdle winner Saint Roi made a silky smooth return to action at Tipperary in a Grade 3 event. The gelded son of Coastal Path jumped and travelled well throughout and only had to be nudged clear to win by five and a half lengths. Shortened for the Champion Hurdle as a result, Willie Mullins nominated the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal (30th October) as a possible target. That would set up an intriguing clash with the Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up Abacadabras.