Day 5
2.30 – Aidan O'brien is the master in this race and I have the utmost respect for Pearls And Rubies but I couldn't be going in at 2/1. I'd rather take a chance on the Joseph O'Brien pair or NEMONTE and WARNIE. The former won a shade cosy on debut and must be smart to win on debut as the stable train them to come on for the first run. The step up to 7f will suit and I'm interested to see how he gets on. The latter is an unraced type but has competed in a barrier trial that is reportedly working out well. I suspect he will be tuned up enough to know his job and O'Brien has gone to the effort of enlisting James McDonald for the ride.
3.05 – COVEY looked pretty useful when powering home at Haydock recently and a similar performance would probably see him take this I think. It doesn't look that deep on paper and there are plenty with questions to answer. The selection is on the up and clearly thriving at present so might be a good favourite to follow.
3.40 – I'm backing HIGHFIELD PRINCESS to gain some compensation for Tuesday's narrow defeat at the hands of Bradsell. She still put up a brave performance and was coming back late on which suggests the step back up to 6f shouldn't inconvenience her. Rohaan is interesting at a price but I'd rather see Hollie Doyle onboard.
4.20 – I haven't got a huge opinion on this race and if the favourite turns up in similar form as his last run then he will take some beating. The Gosden mare looks completely unexposed at this level and I wouldn't be surprised if she can provide Frankie with another winner but I'm going to take a chance on PYLEDRIVER being fit enough to do himself justice here. He's the highest rated in the field and loves this course and distance having won last year's King George easily enough. William Muir will be plotting a route back from that race but he should still be able to run a nice race here at 8/1.
5.00 – I've been sweet on PROBE for this race for quite some time and although I was disappointed to see him turn up at Epsom I am pleased to see Ryan Moore has been enlisted for the ride here. This horse first impressed me at Wolverhampton when making up a lot of ground with the minimum of fuss before running at Newmarket when he saw too much daylight and got run out of it late on. He has since made amends for that back at the same course before running below par at Epsom, a course that wouldn't have suited him. This race is tailor made for him I think and if Ryan Moore can work his magic then he has a serious chance today.
5.35 – I can see Frankie running up a bit of momentum earlier in the day which will probably mean KNOCKBREX going off a short price here for what will be his final ever Royal ride. Understandably given his form in the book and a mark of 90 looks far too lenient. He didn't quite stay the trip the last day so the drop in trip with Frankie on board will entice punters and I will be one of them. The Jim Bolger horse CUBAN DAWN could be interesting at a price. He has some decent form over a mile in Ireland and the fact Bolger sends him over is interesting in itself. Hollie Doyle is booked and he could outrun his large odds.
6.10 – Stratum has been good to me in this race the last couple of years but I think his older legs will struggle to cope with the younger legs of DAWN RISING who looks to have been primed for a big run in this. Unexposed on the flat when he changed hands and codes to go hurdling where he has become a classy performer in his own right, he looks to have plenty more to offer in races like this on the level. Again, Ryan Moore has been booked which has to be a sign of confidence.
