The horse racing broadcaster has four selections for the opening day of Newmarket's July Meeting, and also recaps the Eclipse Stakes from last weekend.
The Newmarket July Meeting begins on Thursday with four races on ITV.
First up is a Leger trial in the shape of the 1m 5f Bahrain Trophy, which features four runners from the Queens Vase and one from the Derby. The Queens Vase looked a slow-motion affair and of that quartet, Scandinavia, who had a wide trip, may well reverse form with Further, who had the perfect trail in on the rail. Preference, though, is for NIGHTIME DANCER (15:50 Newmarket), as although he was ridden to pick up the pieces in the Derby he was the fourth-fastest horse in the field over the final 3f, and that speed may prove an asset given how one-paced many looked in the Queens Vase over further.
The Group 2 July Stakes will be useful in bringing together various juvenile form lines from the Woodcote, Coventry and Norfolk. Maximized deserves to be favourite with Havana Hurricane having franked the form of the Woodcote and Godolphin’s excellent course record, but at a bigger price COMICAL POINT (14:25 Newmarket) could progress up to 6f, having not been given a hard time in the Norfolk. Gstaad apart, the Norfolk may prove to have as much strength in depth as this season’s Coventry, whose form is represented by the sole maiden in the field, Do Or Do Not. It is the significantly larger price which tips the scales in favour of Comical Point over Maximized in a strong-looking renewal.
The day’s big handicap is the three-year-old contest over 6f, where PRINCE OF INDIA (15:00 Newmarket) could be suited by a big field, strong pace set up. Twice successful over 7f, he dropped back in trip at Leicester when only failing to catch Hucklesbrook, who is one of three horses from that race to have won next time out (fifth and eighth the other pair). He has proved progressive since moving into handicaps, and may not have reached his ceiling yet.
The feature race of the day is the Princess of Wales’s Stakes, a Group 2 over 1m 4f. GHOSTWRITER (15:35 Newmarket) will have few better opportunities to repay some of what looked a lofty price tag when he changed hands for £2m just prior to Royal Ascot. He can confirm the Hardwicke form with Palladium, who like Arabian Crown could do with some rain, and Wimbledon Hawkeye, who is looking an increasingly difficult ride. Ghostwriter was dropping to Group 2 company that day for the first time since his Royal Lodge win over on the Rowley Mile as a juvenile, and the balance of his form reads better than any of his opponents on fast ground.
CORAL ECLIPSE RECAP
The Eclipse looked a confusing bunfight of a race, with several expected run styles not materialising and plenty of argy-bargy in the straight. Having let the dust settle and with the help of the numbers, here is hopefully a more considered view than any I was able to give at the time!
DELACROIX – Deserves extra credit for the win as he got shuffled back into the worst position in a race that was quite steadily run. In the Derby, he had produced a hidden burst down the field when the fastest between 4f and 3f out, and here he was able to produce a similar turn of foot at a time when it had a far more telling effect. 10f is his trip and if he lines up against Field Of Gold in either the Juddmonte or Champion Stakes it will be the clash of the season.
OMBUDSMAN – At the time, I thought William Buick sending Ombudsman forward three wide just before leaving the back straight was a misjudgement that had cost him dear, but on reflection I don’t think that was the case. He moved up when the pace lulled, avoided the trouble, and was undone only by a rare burst from Delacroix rather than folding himself. I am still of the view that his Ascot win has been rated too highly and think he actually went close to matching it here.
RULING COURT – Initially looked more relaxed beforehand but got very warm in the final few moments. He could not get a gap when he needed one at the crucial time the pace lifted, and had to come around them before staying on well. He reproduced his Guineas form here and was close to being the second-best horse on the day, but he is always in danger of boiling over beforehand.
CAMILLE PISSARRO – Got a clearer run than most and the emphasis on speed should have suited, so just not good enough. His French Derby win is not a solid piece of form.
HOTAZHELL – In theory, well-placed in a tactical race, but it did not place enough emphasis on stamina and he got out-paced and possibly a touch outclassed.
SOSIE – Like so many French horses this season, a UK challenge has been undermined by fast ground. He may prove a different proposition back in France or at Ascot on Champions Day if it comes up soft.
To conclude, a race of many moving parts but hard to feel anything other than the best horse in Delacroix overcame trouble to win on the day, producing an excellent turn of foot. /
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