The pick of the weekend prices....

Friday, 2nd October 2026

The pick of the weekend prices….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks in the big races on Saturday & Sunday….

THUNDERING ON is already advised at a nice price in the 3.05 at Longchamp on Sunday and I’m also backing VARANDIR – up at 12s….

…. and I’m on RIVER KING at 10s in the 3.35 at Ascot on Saturday….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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I’ve already got a nice ante-post ticket about Thundering On for Sunday’s Arc at Longchamp (3.05)….

…. I took some of the 20s available about Joseph O’Brien’s Oaks winner after she got beaten in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh at the end of June….

…. taking the view that the no-show performance was a blip….

She looked much more the part again last month when winning the G2 Blanford Stakes – getting right back to form….

…. she’s bagged a plum draw on Sunday in stall 3….

…. and you can’t get better than 8s about her this morning….

Dylan Browne McMonagle has lost his battle for full recovery from a recent injury but the 3yo will be ridden on Sunday by Pierre Charles Boudot – who has the virtue of having won the race previously….

The ground is a bit of a wrinkle. Thundering On was underwhelming when last faced with quick ground in Ireland – and I’m hopeful the track is slower than that on Sunday….

…. but it is what it is, and I can do nothing about it now but watch and hope….

I could just let Thundering On run but I’m going to throw a second dart and back VARANDIR at the 12s….

He runs for Francis-Henry Graffard and is a stablemate to Daryz – last year’s winner and favourite for this weekend’s renewal….

Earlier this week the trainer said he believes Daryz is ahead of Varandir right now….

…. but the 3yo has the advantage of weight concessions….

…. he’s improving very rapidly….

…. he just won the Prix Neil – the trial won by Daryz last term….

…. and he’s not so different in profile to how Daryz turned out last year….

If he improves again – he’s drawn well in stall 5 – then he’s capable of getting into the mix at a nice price….

Before we get to Sunday’s Arc there is the small matter of Saturday’s Challenge Cup at Ascot – for which 18 horses go to post….

The one that stands out to me at a double-figure price is Richard Hannon’s RIVER KING at the 10s….

I put him up as a Watch List horse back in June – when he ran a cracker on the wrong side of the track at Royal Ascot in the Buckingham Palace….

He wasn’t seen again until the middle of last month – when he ran a promising return stepped back up to the mile at Doncaster….

He wasn’t beaten far – Sean Leavy played his cards late in the piece and another furlong would have been interesting – and he’s entitled to have just needed that outing….

He’s back at the 7f trip but Ascot’s rising finish will make it feel like a mile – and I suspect tomorrow’s track and trip configuration will suit….

Is stall 2 the right place or the wrong place to be? Who knows. We will find out….

…. but River King is a fresher horse than most at this late stage of the season….

…. and he’s got a pot in him at this kind of standard – if or when the race falls right….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for now. I’ll be back with more next week….

Contact me direct at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd