The ground was described as good at York on Tuesday morning
ahead of the opening day of the Ebor meeting on the Knavesmire with no
significant rain forecast between now and the opening race of this wonderful
four-day meeting.
The American bred Cloudbridge (2.15) would not the ground
any worse than good to soft but the form of his debut success at Leicester last
month was given a boost when the third – River Alwen – scored at Haydock
earlier in the month. The selection looked in trouble at halfway under Ryan
Moore but showed a willing attitude and was well on top at the end. William
Buick takes over in the saddle this afternoon and he looks sure to give a good
account in what does not look a vintage renewal of the Gp 3 Acomb Stakes.
The Gt Voltigeur Stakes which follows is a cracker and John
Gosden – who knows the family so well – steps Darain up in trip to 12f for the
first time. The colt is unbeaten in two starts but was a little free last time
and is not guaranteed to get a mile-and-a-half although Subjectivist will
ensure there is a decent gallop.
Mogul (2.45) was well on top at the end of the Gordon Stakes
last time and he can continue his upward curve for Ballydoyle. Connections
insisted that he would improve as the season progressed and that was certainly
the case at Goodwood after a couple of underwhelming efforts at Royal Ascot and
in the Derby.
Five go to post for the feature race of the meeting and it
really is a race to savour with four top class proven Group 1 performers in
opposition. Ghaiyyath lowered the colours of Enable in the Eclipse and is a
worthy market leader but 6/5 is too short given the quality of opposition.
Lord North was visually very impressive in the Prince Of
Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot but that did not look the deepest renewal of that
Group 1 contest and he is overlooked in this company.
Kameko did us a huge favour when winning the Guineas and l
feel he will relish today's step up in trip having been all dressed up with
nowhere to go in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last time. He will have the race
run to suit, but I just favour the brilliant mare Magical (3.15).
The selection has won four of her last five starts and was going
as well as anything two out in the Arc before fading to finish fifth. The only
horses to have beaten the Ballydoyle mare over 10f in the last couple of
seasons have been Crystal Ocean – soft/heavy ground – and Enable. On a line
through the duel Arc winner she has a bit to find with Ghaiyyath but at 7/2
with Boylesports she gets the vote in a memorable renewal of this great race.
Blakeney Point was backed as if defeat was out of the
question in a modest novice hurdle at Bangor last time having just his second
start for Donald McCain and his first since a wind operation. He is well
handicapped on his best form for Roger Charlton and is a fascinating contender.
Charlton saddles True Destiny (3.45) who was a fluent scorer
over today's C&D last summer and I have always thought there was a big race
to be won with the five-year-old. The selection was not at his best at Goodwood
– 2m 4f – last time in a race he had finished third in last year, but I do feel
two miles is his trip. Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle.
At Stratford I hope to see Ashutor (3.05) go one better than
when runner up his chase debut beaten a neck having made a significant error at
the second last. Good ground is perfect, and I hope to see Harry Cobden make
plenty of use of the grey around these tight turns. Atlantic Storm receives 16lbs
from the selection – including Charlie Hammond's claim – and looks the danger
but I do feel Ashutor can make into a decent chaser at around the minimum trip.
No Regrets (2.10) did us a favour at Southwell last week and
a 7lbs penalty is unlikely to prevent him following up if in the same mood. Alan
King's recent Sandown winner on the flat Fibonacci is potentially very well
treated reverting to hurdles but he has yet to set the world alight over timber
although he did show enough last time at Newbury, on ground softer than ideal,
to suggest he could make his make over timber granted a decent surface.
