The ground here is currently good but rain is expected throughout the card so this may change significantly, and may also impact where they come in the straight.
13:20 – Coral Kincsem Handicap – 10 Furlongs
A big field for this hot-looking 3-year-old handicap.
BEST SECRET heads the market which I get. He was purchased by his big-spending owners following his win back in April in which he threw in some superb sectionals, and should have repaid a portion of that fee at Royal Ascot last time. However, he met trouble at a key stage and found himself too far back, and he could only rattle home for third. That form has been largely untested since but the time was solid and he definitely won’t mind a little bit of rain. Will need a pace to go at, however, and some luck in running.
MARHABA GHAIYYATH continues to progress. He ran another career best in defeat at Newmarket last time when pulling clear of a good yardstick with a fellow improver. He will handle a little bit of give in the ground and should be seen to a tactical advantage under Buick.
PAROLE D’ORO has quickly made up into a smart sort. It originally looked a bit disappointing that he was beaten by an exposed Dutch Decoy last time, but that’s gone on to win emphatically again and was clearly well in that day. The step up in trip should suit him, Ryan Moore rides and he should be hitting peak form now, so there’s plenty going for him – soft ground would be a big worry for him, however.
HIGH DEGREE has been brought along steadily by his shrewd connections but looks ready to make a real impact now. Having finished runner up on his first two starts, he got off the mark in a Maiden at short odds last time out, pulling clear with a subsequent winner. The time was good given the steady pace and basically all of his form is working out. He has the striding to improve again up in trip but he also has some nice tactical pace, so should be a threat to all provided he can overcome stall 18 early.
FORT GEORGE is not straightforward, and this quirkiness probably cost him victory last time, as he got going all too late having raced lazily. In fairness, he shaped much the best there, running each of the final 4 furlongs faster than the winner, and looked as though he was ready for a step up in distance. He’s proven at this track but a repeat of his antics last time will make life hard against this level of opposition.
HYMNBOOK has done well this season, making all to get off the mark at Nottingham on his penultimate start and then running a nice race in a competitive little event at Ascot last time out. He was probably a bit far back off a slow pace there, I’m just not sure he’s going to relish this distance like some of the others.
DANTE’S LAD has a lot of pace but would not want any rain.
ERNST BLOFELD ran an excellent race two back in the London Gold Cup, a race that has worked out nicely enough and produced a fast time. He bombed over 12 furlongs at Royal Ascot, but the distance and a wide trip seem like valid excuses. He should be more comfortable under these conditions and retains significant potential.
A couple interest me at bigger prices. SEAGOLAZO wasn’t far behind Parole D’Oro last time out yet is several times the price. He handles soft ground well so won’t mind the rain, comes here third off a lay-off and represents a yard in top form. He moves up in trip but crucially has a Montjeu damsire – normally an indicator of stamina – so he may be able to outrun long odds.
Perhaps even more interesting is another horse out of a Montjeu mare, JANEY MACKERS. She looks a good horse when winning her Novice by a wide margin last year and post-race her shrewd yard talking about the Guineas, as well as the French and English Oaks. It hasn’t really worked out for her this season but she has clearly been brought along steadily as is the stable’s MO and her latest run over this course and distance was eye-catching. Making he challenge away from the main action, she was the fastest in the field from 4f-1f out and just faded late on. That run should bring her forward again for her third start off the break and the barn won with a similar sort at this meeting yesterday. Stall 5 seems suitable, she’ll handle the ground and a mark of 87 looks within her range. 20/1 currently looks like value.
13:55 – Markel Richmond Stakes (Group 2) – 6 Furlongs
Sprinting juveniles that should be fast and furious. There is a headwind but it may not be a big factor at this sharp track.
COPPULL will likely be racing into that wind given he has front run on both starts to date. He made a successful debut and then ran an absolute screamer to finish third in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot despite having raced into the wind. That would be just amongst the best form on offer, the time was good and he should improve again, so he looks a worthy favourite, although soft ground would be an unknown.
Eve Johnson Houghton is having a fine week and her HAVANA HURRICANE looks to go one better than when touched off in a valuable conditions race last time out. He’d won at Royal Ascot prior that and had caught the eye over this distance making a huge middle move, after which he faded. He has to prove himself over this trip as a result of that but should stay and he continues to improve.
MAXIMIZED finished in front of Havana Hurricane two back, albeit with a more even run, and is probably better than his latest effort on fast ground when disappointing as a 6/4 favourite at Group 2 level. The form of that run has worked out here this week, however, the time was still decent, and cheekpieces may help him bounce back.
EGOLI made short work of his field last time out to take his record to two wins from three runs, recording a good speedfigure in the process. He looks a good sort physically and showed plenty of pace last time out, while softer ground shouldn’t be an issue.
SUPER SOLDIER struggled on fast ground at Royal Ascot but ran well in the Prix Robert Papin, a Group 2, in France last time. That form gives him a serious chance and he will relish any rain that falls.
I thought UNDERWRITER would run well at Royal Ascot but he bombed out big time in the Coventry. He’s since got back on track at a lower level and I still have a lot of faith in this horse.
14:30 – HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes (Group 3) – 12 Furlongs
A race that revolves around the favourite MERCHANT. This Teofilo colt has progressed with both starts this season, winning at York and then going in again at Royal Ascot in impressive style. That looks like good form with the second going on to nearly win the Irish Derby and the fifth winning impressively here yesterday, so he should take the step up to Group company in his stride. I don’t think he’d want the ground too soft.
RAHIEBB finished behind Merchant at York when conceding 8lbs and also comes into this race off the back of a fine run at Royal Ascot. He, too, comes out of a hot race, the Queen’s Vase, which has produced this week’s Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavian. He made the best move there, running fastest from 3f-1f, but flattened out a little close home in the manner of a non-stayer. He has plenty of speed in his pedigree and should have no issue dropping back to this distance, and I think he’ll give the favourite a real race.
GALVESTON also ran a fine race at Royal Ascot and only got swamped late by two high class colts. He looks the potential speed in the race and this progressive sort is going to set a bold sight.
SIR DINADAN represents the Ralph Beckett yard that is having such a good week. He was fifth in the Irish Derby last time which, on ratings, isn’t far off the best form in the race. They finished in a bit of a heap in that contest but the time was good and he has improved with every run.
15:05 – Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) – 10 Furlongs
A small field for this ‘Win & You’re In’ race for the Filly & Mare Turf.
WHIRL is very much the one to beat. She was unlucky to be touched off by Minnie Hauk in the Oaks, not quite getting home over 12 furlongs, but has since won the Pretty Polly in game and classy fashion, beating the King George runner up Kalpana in the process. This track should suit her and she should lead, and it’ll take a good one to get past her.
That is probably a description that applies to SEE THE FIRE, however. She was hugely impressive when romping home at York two back and ran a superb race in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, travelling as well as anything but finding herself vulnerable to wide closers that had been ridden a bit more conservatively. She was just touched off by an Aidan O’Brien filly in this last year but looks an improved horse now and might go one better.
BEDTIME STORY is the O’Brien second string but is no mug having finished second in the French Oaks last time. She hasn’t really lived up to the potential she showed as a juvenile and will need the front two to underperform to win this on what she’s shown so far.
CERCENE caused a shock when winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last time but she’d run well in the Irish 1000 Guineas prior and is clearly a talented filly. She’s out of a sprinter so might not want this far.
RUNNING LION looks over faced but is a potential speed angle who may prevent the favourite from having it all her own way.
