Gosden rates Taghrooda’s Arc chances

The sparkling winner of the Epsom Oaks and King George lost her unbeaten record when beaten by half a length by Aidan O’Brien-trained and Ryan Moore-ridden Tapestry in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York’s Ebor festival.

Despite the blip, Taghrooda now disputes favouritism for Europe’s signature Flat race following the defection of a number of high-profile horses and the poor form demonstrated by last year’s heroine Treve.

Taghrooda, the mount of two-time champion jockey Paul Hanagan, is to be put through her paces alongside a lead horse on the Rowley Mile.

Gosden said: “She’s in good form and came screaming into season the day after York, although I’m not making excuses. I’m pointing her at the Arc and it’s an open race this year with the Prix Diane winner (Avenir Certain) looking very nice and the Japanese horse exciting.

“She’s in her last two-week build-up and just needs to come through her work She did very well after York and put on weight. I need to get it off now, so she’ll have a couple of pieces of work and a racecourse gallop.

“She handles any ground around good – not very soft and certainly not like a road. She’s not over-raced and I think being a three-year-old filly is a big factor, although Just A Way could be exceptional if he stays.”

Gosden, this season’s leading trainer, confirmed he will be doubly represented in the Betfred Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on Saturday, with Cornrow and Maverick Wave attempting to give the trainer his fourth victory in the first leg of the ‘Autumn Double’.

Only Jeremy Glover managed as many successes in the race during modern times, and Gosden’s previous heroes, Halling, Tazeez and Pipedreamer, all turned out to be much better than simply handicappers.

Cornrow, who has won three of his five starts to date, is 8-1 with William Hill after it was confirmed that stable jockey William Buick will be in the saddle.

However, Gosden expects to be pipped by Richard Hannon in the race to be champion trainer.

The 2012 champion still has a lead of approaching £250,000 over Hannon, whose father, Richard snr, claimed the prize last year. But Kingman, Gosden’s leading hope for next month’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, was officially retired on Monday.

“I’ll let you know at 5pm on Champions Day,” said Gosden. “Kingman was our banker and I’d go odds on Richard.

“But it’s a fun ding-dong and exciting, although I expect them to come swooping past.”