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Grand National festival

The big debate: will Moore's mount Winter stay the distance at Chantilly?

Winter won Thursday's Nassau Stakes at Goodwood
Winter winning the Nassau Stakes at GoodwoodCredit: Edward Whitaker

Following the news that Ryan Moore has elected to ride dual 1,000 Guineas heroine Winter in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, two Racing Post writers analyse whether she will stay on her first start at a mile and a half . . .

YES

You don't have to be much of a bloodstock expert to see that Winter's dam, Laddies Poker Two, and dam's sire Choisir, both Royal Ascot winners over six furlongs, put plenty of speed into Winter's pedigree.

However, she has already outrun the sprint trips at which they excelled and while she faced a straightforward task in landing the 1m2f Nassau Stakes at odds-on, she took a strong hold in the early stages that day and still finished strongly – winning comfortably.

She should be more relaxed on Sunday after a pleasing return in the Matron Stakes that will have calmed any buzziness and honed her fitness, and she couldn't have a cooler man on board to help her get home.

John Cobb, associate editor


NO

Can a filly who travelled notably powerfully in winning a fast-ground 1,000 Guineas over a mile prove as effective over a mile and a half in stamina-sapping conditions? I find it hard to believe, particularly when that filly is out of a winner of the six-furlong Wokingham Handicap.

Winter may have won the Nassau Stakes over 1m2f on soft ground, but the pace was not strong, so less emphasis was placed on stamina than may have been expected.

Also, while Winter has proved the best of her sex over a mile, showing admirable consistency, she has not produced a performance that can match Enable's prime efforts. It's likely Winter will need a clear career-best effort to prevail on Sunday.

Tony McFadden, reporter


If you are interested in this, you might also like:

Arc day race times

Scott Burton's Chantilly diary


Published on 28 September 2017inGrand National festival

Last updated 17:47, 28 September 2017

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