Katie Midwinter (13/07/23)
NEWMARKET
3:25pm – Superlative Stakes (Group 2)
Aidan O’Brien’s exciting Justify colt City Of Troy is the market leader following a convincing debut win at the Curragh earlier this month. The mount of Ryan Moore, City Of Troy sets the standard in this Group Two affair representing powerful connections.
Only seen once on a racetrack so far, the unexposed son of Group One winner Together Forever could be capable of showing masses of improvement, which could allow him to assert his dominance in this juvenile contest.
In similar fashion to the favourite, Godolphin hope Great Truth has also only been seen once, making light work of his opposition to win at Leicester last month. The first foal out of Australia’s Group Two-winning mare Beyond Reason, the well-bred colt is by leading stallion Dubawi and represents an in-form Charlie Appleby yard, currently performing at a 44% strike rate.
Charles Hills’ Iberian is another with only one run to his name, a comfortable debut success at Newbury over 6½f. The Lope De Vega colt cost 200,000gns as a yearling and is out of Listed-winning mare Bella Estrella.
Whilst all of the three main protagonists, according to the market, should have what it takes to make the step up to this level and be able to compete in the company of classy, well-bred opponents, it may be worth siding with a more experienced youngster in Haatem.
Richard Hannon’s two-year-old has performed at a high level already in his career so far, winning his maiden comfortably at Bath before finishing third in a race won by Bobsleigh at Epsom. Both Haatem and Bobsleigh went on to back up their Epsom escapades with promising performances at Royal Ascot, with Haatem finishing less than three-lengths behind winner River Tiber in the Coventry Stakes. Hannon’s charge crossed the line a-length-and-three-quarters behind third-placed Bucanero Fuerte, who subsequently landed a Group Two prize at the Curragh.
Whilst Haatem’s form figures may be less attractive than the unexposed colts heading the market, he already has experience at the top level in juvenile contests and that could be a crucial factor during the race. Sean Levey’s mount is an enticing each-way selection, capable of upsetting affairs at Newmarket by beating the so far unbeaten contenders.
Each-way selection:
Haatem 9/1 – Richard Hannon, Sean Levey
4:00pm – Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap)
Bless Him, 2lbs higher than his last winning mark, was last seen running on well to finish fifth at odds of 40/1 in the Royal Hunt Cup. The David Simcock-trained nine-year-old is a shorter price than usual for the contest, which does make him a less attractive betting proposition. Often, he is seen coming from the rear of the field to mount a late challenge, sometimes finding daylight when it’s too late or struggling to manoeuver through the gaps when space is at a premium.
The course-and-distance winner is more than capable of mounting a challenge off a mark of 103, and perhaps the booking of Callum Shepherd may allow connections to try a change of tactics, as Bless Him is without usual rider Jamie Spencer, known for his patient approach.
Spangled Mac is another interesting contender. The four-year-old has been dropped 1lbs for his eighth-placed finish in the Wokingham Stakes which came two days after he finished fourth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. He remains on a workable mark on 94, and with a bit of luck in-running he is good enough to make the frame in this field.
Old favourite Ropey Guest failed to fire at Ascot and remains off a mark of 95. The George Margarson-trained gelding has been competitive off a similar mark in the past and often sneaks into the places at a big price. He is worth keeping on side as he is a likeable horse, capable of springing a surprise.
Each-way selection:
Spangled Mac 20/1 – George Boughey, Kevin Stott
4:35pm – July Cup Stakes (Group 1)
Shaquille provided trainer Julie Camacho and connections with a fairytale victory when landing the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last month. Previously unexposed at Group One level, he proved he is more than capable of competing at the top table with an emphatic performance to record a special victory. On form he is the worthy favourite and, with only one loss in six races to date, he will be difficult to beat.
Little Big Bear must reverse form with Commonwealth Cup winner Shaquille if to claim his first Group One of the season. The No Nay Never colt has plenty of talent but isn’t as dominant as he was as a juvenile and now has to show improvement if he is to live up to his big reputation.
Charles Hills’ Khaadem, fresh from a win in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, has been supplemented for this race. If running to his best, as demonstrated at Royal Ascot, he is a big price at 14/1, but needs to prove his Group One victory was no fluke and must back it up with another good performance.
Course-and-distance winner Azure Blue is bidding for a five-timer. The Michael Dods-trained filly beat Highfield Princess to land her first Group Two prize, following two Listed successes. She possesses plenty of speed and has been improving with each run, indicating that there could be even more to come from her.
William Buick is aboard Ralph Beckett-trained Kinross who wasn’t disgraced on seasonal reappearance at Royal Ascot. The gelded son of Kingman has shown great versatility in his career, able to perform over different trips and on varying ground conditions. He could improve for his first run of the season and is dangerous to discount in this race.
Emaraaty Ana was disappointing when last seen, failing to quicken when asked and making little impression. Despite this, he remains of interest as a horse capable of entering calculations if on a going day and the Kevin Ryan yard are in-form, currently performing at a 24% strike rate.
Win selection:
Little Big Bear 4/1 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
ASCOT
1:45pm – Class 2 Handicap
Rohaan 10/1 – David Evans, Adam Kirby
Rohaan should put his disappointing form of late behind him and bounce back now down in class, in handicap company. Running off a mark of 110 gives him an excellent chance of returning to the winner’s enclosure, 1lbs higher than his last winning mark in a handicap when he landed the Wokingham Stakes at last year’s Royal Meeting.
2:20pm – Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2)
Master Of The Seas 7/2 – Charlie Appleby, James Doyle
Arguably the best horse in the race on form, despite being 1lbs inferior to the highest-rated Aldaary, Master Of The Seas sets the standard for Charlie Appleby. Seen only once as a four-year-old when winning a Group Three at Newmarket, he returned from a long absence with a Group Two success in Meydan, before placing in a Group One. He was disappointing when last seen, but he is more than capable of bouncing back and holds leading claims.
YORK
2:00pm – Class 2 Handicap
Wild Lion 5/1 – Saeed bin Suroor, Christian Howarth (5)
The five-year-old son of the late The Last Lion performed well at the track in June to land his first win on turf. Now 4lbs higher but with 5lbs claimer Christian Howarth onboard, Wild Lion is in good order to make it back-to-back wins. Cheekpieces stay on, and he could improve for his successful campaign opener.
2:35pm – City Walls Stakes (Listed)
Queen Me 6/1 – Kevin Ryan, Andrea Atzeni
Three-year-old daughter of Dubawi, Queen Me, has shown plenty of ability in her career to date, winning on debut before being narrowly beaten in the Group Two Lowther Stakes as a juvenile. She went on to finish third in an Ayr Group Three, finishing three-quarters-of-a-length behind subsequent Group Three winner Believing.
Upped in trip to open her current campaign, she struggled to make an impression in the competitive 1000 Guineas. She returned over 6f when last seen, finishing sixth, three-lengths behind winner Shaquille, in the Commonwealth Cup. Now down in class, she has the ability and speed to compete against the boys and older rivals in this contest, more than capable of landing a Listed prize.
3:10pm – John Smith’s Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
Cadillac 14/1 (EW) – Alice Haynes, Christian Howarth (5)
Badly hampered and stopped in his tracks when expected to go well in the Wolferton Stakes, Cadillac must be forgiven for his unlucky run at Royal Ascot. Prior to his Royal assignment, he won an Epsom handicap off a mark of 105 and was subsequently given a 5lbs rise by the handicapper. Now rated 110, claiming jockey Howarth takes off a useful 5lbs which could make all the difference in this competitive handicap.
3:45pm – Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3)
Hamish 8/11 – William Haggas, Tom Marquand
Surely as close a certainty as you can get in racing? Hamish is a force to be reckoned with, whose form figures clearly show his consistency and high level of ability. The course-and-distance winner is an exceptional staying talent, 9lbs clear of the field on ratings.
The Conditional favourite Scriptwriter is the outsider of the field, returning to the Flat yet again for a taste of the action, but he has 14lbs to find with the odds-on favourite, in receipt of 3lbs, and may find it hard to pose a threat in this company.
All runners/prices are correct at the time of publication.
THE CONDITIONAL 