Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes: Runner by runner betting guide
The first of this weekend's big race runner-by-runner betting guides, and before we dive into Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the fillies get their time to shine in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes.
Only five line up for this year’s race, with four of them holding live chances.
The classic generation will test their skills against two of the more established runners in the field: Inspiral and Nashwa.
Can the three-year-olds take another step forward, or will the elders put their younger rivals in their place?
All you need to know is here with my runner-by-runner betting guide and the best online bookmakers to make your Sun Chariot bet a winning one.
Sun Chariot Stakes: Runner by runner guide
Now it’s time to take a in-dept looking into runners of the Sun Chariot Stakes and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.
🏇 6 - Tamfana (6)
- Runner: Tamfana
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Age: 3
- Form: -34341
- Jockey: Colin Keane
- Trainer: David Menuisier
- Betting Odds: 11/4
Having fallen just short in her three attempts at Group 1 level this season (4th in the 1000 Guineas, 3rd in the Prix de Diane, and 4th behind current Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe favorite Sosie), Tamfana finally got her head in front when a comfortable winner over Doha at Sandown in Group 3 company.
That win was a much-needed confidence booster for Tamfana, but I can't shake the feeling that she might need more to take this today.
She’s the worthy favorite, based on her 4th behind Sosie and her Sandown performance, but she’s up against some classy fillies here.
There’s a lot to like about her form, but she may find one too good in this field.
Not easily dismissed, but I’ll pass at the current prices.
✅ An impressive winner at Group 3 level last time out
✅ A good 4th behind current Arc favourite
❌ Has failed to win on all 3 attempts at Group 1 level
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐎 Bet on Tamfana with talkSPORT BET 🐎
🏇 1 - Insprial (1)
- Runner: Insprial
- Weight: 9st 5lb
- Age: 5
- Form: 11-436
- Jockey: Robert Havlin
- Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- Betting Odds: 3/1
I’ve never really taken to Inspiral, and this season she has looked like a filly who doesn’t want to give it her all when the pressure is on.
There’s no doubt she has the class to win, but does she still have the heart for it?
She’s also added the habit of missing the break, which has made life harder for her in her last two starts.
In a smaller field like this, she might get away with it, but it’s far from ideal for a horse sitting just off the top of the market.
For me, there are too many risks attached to Inspiral to consider her a backable proposition.
I’ll gladly pass on her here.
✅ Has more than enough talent to win
❌ Has shown signs that she may have had enough now
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
🐎 Bet on Insprial with BetMGM 🐎
🏇 2 - Nashwa (3)
- Runner: Nashwa
- Weight: 9st 5lb
- Age: 5
- Form: 3236-9
- Jockey: Hollie Doyle
- Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- Betting Odds: 9/2
You're taking a serious shot in the dark if you're considering backing Nashwa here.
She comes into this race not having run since March 30th, and to add to the concerns, the ground seems likely to be against her, if you believe trainer John Gosden's comments about why she was beaten on soft ground in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day last October.
Nashwa also has a tendency to over-race, so much like Inspiral, there are just too many risks involved with backing her.
✅ If fully ready she can run well
❌ Can over race through her races
❌ Soft ground is a negative
Star Rating: ⭐⭐
🐎 Bet on Nashwa with Spreadex 🐎
🏇 5 - See the Fire (5)
- Runner: See The Fire
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Age: 3
- Form: -05421
- Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- Trainer: Andrew Balding
- Betting Odds: 9/2
See The Fire is a perfect example of a horse learning on the job.
She never looked anywhere near the finished article when she ran in the 1000 Guineas, but she has progressed with each run since.
A 50/1 5th in the Coronation Stakes, beaten just over 3 lengths, was followed by a solid run behind City Of Troy in a race that wasn’t run to suit her.
Next up was the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, where she narrowly missed reeling in Opera Singer after missing the break.
In the Group 3 Strensall Stakes, See The Fire dropped down to 1m1f and put in a dominant display, winning comfortably and pulling away from Phantom Flight.
There’s every chance she has more to give today, and with no concerns about the ground (having placed in Group 2 and Group 1 races on soft last season), she can make good use of her stamina and run down the leaders late on.
She should have a big say in the outcome here.
✅ Looks ready to take a big prize
❌ She would not want a slowly run race
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐎 Bet on See the Fire with VBET 🐎
🏇 4 - Elmalka (4)
- Runner: Elmalka
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Age: 3
- Form: 1-3144
- Jockey: William Buick
- Trainer: Roger Varian
- Betting Odds: 10/1
Elmalka, the surprise winner of the 1000 Guineas, has yet to really threaten in her two runs since.
She finished just a nose ahead of See The Fire at Royal Ascot but was 3 lengths behind the same rival in the Nassau Stakes.
If she’s to get back to winning ways here, she’ll need to rediscover the spark that saw her get up late to win at Newmarket.
At 10/1, she’s a very backable price, but she’s likely to find one or two too good for her in this race.
✅ Has the form to get her head in front
❌ Hasn’t seemed to progress since the Guineas
Star Rating: ⭐⭐
🐎 Bet on Elmalka with Copybet 🐎
🏇 3 - Darnation (2)
- Runner: Darnation
- Weight: 9st 2lb
- Age: 4
- Form: 5-0125
- Jockey: Sam James
- Trainer: Karl Burke
- Betting Odds: 50/1
The Karl Burke-trained Darnation is very much just making up the numbers here.
There’s nothing from her runs this season to suggest that she’s capable of winning this race.
An easy pass today.
✅ None to find for this test
❌ Looks to have a mountain to climb
Star Rating: ⭐
Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes verdict
This is a tight-knit contest, with Darnation being the only one you can confidently rule out. The one I believe has the most potential for further improvement and is ready to claim her Group 1 glory is SEE THE FIRE.
She has progressed with each run this season, and if that trend continues, she will have a massive say in the outcome here.
Tamfana may prove to be the best of the rest.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube's . Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you're a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
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