13:50 – 1m4f (1m3f218y) – Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo 0-105)
A handicap for improving 3-year-olds. This wouldn’t be the strongest renewal of this race.
#2 CANNES follows a similar path as last year’s winner, coming here off a run in the King George V Stakes for Joseph O’Brien. He was never in the hunt last time out after a slow start but this race should prove a less intense affair and he’s capable of resuming his progress here.
#1 TIERRA DEL TORO finished ahead of him in that Ascot contest and that represented a decent effort for a colt who’s still learning the game. He had a few positions that day and couldn’t go with the principles off the bend, but he boxed on nicely and the form is working out well – he’s top-rated by Timeform, too.
#3 INFRAAD had nothing go right for him around the tight turns at Chester last time out and is better than he was able to show there. He was very strong on the gallop out having been stuck in traffic at a key stage and shapes as though this distance, around an easy track, might bring about further improvement.
#5 HATTEEN seemed to relish this distance last time out when landing a hot Novice to get off the mark at the fifth attempt. He looks the type to keep improving with time and I love the way he quickened to lead there, running a fast time with plenty in hand. That race was a Win & You’re In style contest for the Group 1 St Leger, so connections must be rubbing their hands at the chance to run in this handicap off a mark of 88.
He had #9 SEA AND SUN behind and that rival should run well here, too. His yard excels at this meeting and he looks to have been brought along steadily with this race in mind. He should be well positioned for a forward-going jockey and is the type to keep rolling down the hill.
14:25 – 5f – British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) (Class 2) (2yo)
This looks between the two Wathnan runners, both of whom caught the eye on debut before running well at Royal Ascot. There’s little between #8 WILD BLOSSOM and #5 HIDDEN GIFT in my mind and at the current prices I much prefer the latter. She was super green on debut but showed the benefit of that in the Albany Stakes, showing excellent gate speed and pace to lead the 25-runner field but wilting late on having raced into the wind. I think the drop in trip here is exactly what she needs and she should take another step forward given how her trainer brings his runners along steadily.
15:00 – 7f – Rolls-Royce Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+)
An interesting seven furlong affair and it’s notable that neither of the two current market leaders have ever run over this distance. #1 FLORA OF BERMUDA has amongst the best form here but is trying this trip for the first time aged 5 and for me that’s enough reason to swerve – she also carries a 3lb penalty.
#8 SAYIDAH DARIYAN should stay on pedigree but she’s too inconsistent for me to really trust, even with Ryan Moore. Again, she has amongst the best form, and is top-rated, but I think it’s possible something could improve past her.
That may be #14 ZANTHOS, who found Group 1 sprinting a little bit too much to handle last time out but had some good form over this distance as a juvenile. She gets a tongue-tie which should help her finish her race off a little better.
#13 PLANET SEEKER was felt good enough to run in a Group 3 as a juvenile placing third. She produced a lesser effort on synthetics on her seasonal debut but won emphatically last time out, beating Machadadorp (finished unplaced in the concluding race on Tuesday) by a wide margin with the pair well clear of the third. She should step forward again and looks well worth another go in Stakes company.
#7 RADIANT BEAUTY has done nothing but improve since joining this yard and I didn’t think there was any fluke about her Listed win last time, putting distance on her field and then holding off the late rallies with aplomb. She should get a lovely run around here from stall 1 and could outrun big odds.
15:35 – 5f – Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (2yo)
An open juvenile sprint with several converging formlines from Royal Ascot.
#7 PERSHAADA showed plenty of pace in the Albany Stakes last time out, travelling well before keeping on nicely to finish fourth. She’s had more starts than most of these but seems to be learning on the job and has improved her rating every start. She’s in good hands to improve again and has landed a decent post in stall 7.
#6 RULER’S PRIDE was well-touted before his debut but didn’t really impress me there beating two rivals, with the runner up very tenderly handled. He cut little ice in the Coventry Stakes last time out, beating just one home on his side of the draw. He’s got enough to prove for me at the prices now.
#1 ADONIUS is unbeaten in three races at lower levels. He skipped Royal Ascot with this in mind having won nicely at Chester last time out in a race that has worked out well. He’s got bags of early pace and has clocked a couple of big speed figures already, while he only has a few pounds to find on ratings with more to come. Don’t underestimate him.
#10 CROWNBREAKER was a place behind #7 PERSHAADA in the Albany but has since gone on to win a Listed race in France. She’s also improving but she may be drawn a little bit away from the action here in stall 2.
Another that is drawn low is #3 EL FLORIDITA. He plugged on well into second in the Norfolk Stakes at Ascot last time out but that race was fiercely run at a stiff track and I wonder if he may find this a bit sharp.
He finished well in front of #4 FLIGHT SIGNAL there, who I thought had a big chance based on his impressive Bath debut win. He was friendless in the market for that contest, however, and only beat one rival. He obviously has a lot to prove now but I still think the ability is there and he might go better here.
16:10 – 1m – Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+)
Arguably the race of the week.
We’ll see #8 BOW ECHO and #10 GSTAAD face off for the third time this season, with the former currently holding a 2-0 lead in their head-to-heads. The latter significantly reduced the deficit in the St James’s Palace Stakes last time out, beaten just a short-head compared to the 2.75 lengths in the Guineas. It’s worth remembering, however, that Frankel nearly suffered defeat in the St James’s Palace Stakes after a massive effort in the Guineas and I’m inclined to believe that we’ll see a better version of #8 BOW ECHO here. Throw in the poor form of the Aidan O’Brien yard – who have had just 4 winners from their last 44 runners at the time of writing, although did have the Group 1 Goodwood cup winner yesterday – and I think this could end up 3-0.
Can anything upset the pair? Well the most likely type seems to be #4 OPERA BALLO. He was 0.75 lengths behind #7 TEN BOB TONY in the Queen Anne last time out but was trying to make the running into the wind and I think he might be much happier around a turning track rated off a strong pace.
We shouldn’t underestimate #7 TEN BOB TONY either. It’s true he had cover from the headwind there, and received a canny ride, but he’s unexposed over a mile on fast ground and hold up tactics, having generally spent his career racing close to the gallop over shorter. He’s gone past some good horses like they were standing still last time out and we know he’s highly adept on this type of track, so 16/1 looks a shade big to me.
17:00 – 6f – Coral Charlton Handicap (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-80)
A huge field with the pace spread all over.
#7 SUPREME KING is pretty exposed now but he’s on a good mark on the peak of last season’s efforts and is in rare old form currently. He gets a jockey upgrade and ran very well here as a juvenile.
#22 LUNAR MELODY shaped very well in a Maiden two back and I can readily forgive a disappointing run last time out upped in distance on soft ground. He’s extremely unexposed on just his third start, and his first in a handicap, and this E500,000 filly will almost certainly end up better than a mark of 76.
#4 WINCHURCH comes into the race off a career best. He’s done all of his winning in small fields and at lower levels so this will be a different test.
#19 TEX was a winner at Ascot at the weekend and drops back a furlong in trip here. His yard do well at this meeting, but his best recent form has come off a break.
#26 FRENCH AFFAIR looks on a winnable mark based on his run at York three back and things haven’t really dropped right for him since. He gets an interesting yard switch – they had a nice win with a switcher at the weekend – and big jockey upgrade, so should be right there.
#17 CALLING A STAR looked well handicapped when winning two back and is better than result last time when racing into a headwind over further. The drop back to this distance should suit him.
#5 LIPSINK goes well off a break and had subsequent dual winner Twilight Calls (who also won here yesterday) behind him on seasonal debut last time when softened up a little on the front. He goes well over an easy six furlongs and remains on a winning mark.
#6 UNDER THE TWILIGHT was beaten a neck off 4lb lower at this meeting last year so has to come into the reckoning here. She’ll love it if they go too fast.
17:40 – 7f – HKJC World Pool Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-95)
Another tricky handicap where the draw will play a part.
#3 BOBBY BENNU looks ahead of his mark and shouldn’t mind returning to turf after a good run last time out. He’ll be winning one of these soon.
#11 CRIMSON SPIRIT was a winner here three back and has run solidly twice since, including last time out when into the wind. He gets Ryan Moore up.
#14 RHOSCOLYN loves it here and has dropped to a very fair mark. He’s a bit better than he’s been able to show on his last two starts and the booking of Oisin Murphy catches the eye.
#15 ZARATHOS didn’t seem to enjoy front-running over a mile in Ireland last time and can run better here reunited with a jockey that gets a good tune out of him.
