Al Kazeem 7-1 for The Arc after impressive Eclipse victory

Punters who took the early morning special price of 3-1 offered by Coral will be on very good terms with themselves after Al Kazeem strode to an impressive victory at Sandown on Saturday. Trainer Roger Charlton is almost certain to rest his stable star before preparing him for a tilt at the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe on October 6th.

As expected, Paul Hanagan and Mukhadram took the field along at a decent gallop but James Doyle always had him in his sights and the favourite swept by impressively to win by 2 lengths. He did hamper Mukhadram when lugging towards the rail, allowing Declaration Of War came through late to snatch second place.

Coral reacted by quoting Al Kazeem at 7-1 to win the Arc with French Derby winner Intello remaining favourite at 5-1. Last weekend’s Irish Derby winner Trading Leather is priced at 12-1. The latter is likely to be seen next in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot on July 27th.

Tickled Pink and Kingsgate Native, first and second in the Coral Charge, are both priced at 14-1 for the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August. The victory marked a welcome return to form for Lady Cecil’s filly whilst Kingsgate Native was staying on strongly at the finish.

Newmarket takes centre stage next week with July Cup being the feature race of the three-day meeting that opens on Thursday. Shea Shea and Lethal Force are 5-1 joint-favourites in the ante-post market ahead of Society Rock at 13-2.

The best backed horse in the early exchanges has been Aidan O’Brien’s Jersey Stakes winner Gale Force Ten who is now 7-1 from an opening 10-1 to take the prize back to Ireland.