4.38: Turf Sprint
14 runners so this is likely to be competitive and it’s a race the Americans could dominate, like last year. The 1-2-3-4 all go again this year with last years winner Stormy Liberal coming here off the back of 3 narrow wins. Disco Partner was a convincing winner last time out but the field was relatively small & this is much tougher.
It’s probably best to try a different angle than returning horses so the selection is the well fancied World Of Trouble from the Jason Servis yard, who had a 10/1 2nd last night at this meeting from his only runner. He’s a lightly race horse who started out on dirt but, since switching to turf, has put in 2 top class performances. He’s won both starts in listed company, the last by over 5 lengths and he looks a star in the making. His run style is that of a prominent type who can force the pace so provided he breaks ok from gate 11, he’s surely going to be there at the business end.
PLACED – Back World Of Trouble (e/w) for a 2/10 stake at 6.00 Bet365 BOG (¼ odds 1-3)
8.16: Distaff
This is always a top class race & this year is no exception where market leaders should dominate. Monomoy Girl has been first past the post in 9 of her 10 career starts and Midnight Bisou is very closely matched with her after finishing a head 2nd last time out but was promoted to 1st in the stewards room.
However, they’ll both have to go some to stop Abel Tasman if she is forgiven her disappointment last time out where inexplicably she finished 5th of 6 at odds of 1/10. Previous to that, she’s recorded some good times & excellent performances, winning 7 times (6 of those in Grade 1 company). She won last year’s Kentucky Oaks impressively and I fancy she’ll prove to be best of the recent Oaks winners, with Monomoy Girl having landed the spoils earlier this year.
Back Abel Tasman for a 3/10 stake at 3.75 Paddy Power BOG
8.56: Turf
This is a race that Europe dominate & I’m expecting this to be no different with dual Arc winner Enable starting at odds on. What more can be said about this brilliant filly who has won 6 Group 1s? The next 3 Europeans in the betting all finished behind her in the Arc; Waldgeist was 4th, Magical 10th and Talismanic 13th. Magical has since been out again winning at Ascot.
Seeking value, I’m going to side with the horse that should be freshest having had a relatively easy race in the Arc and that horse is last year’s winner of this race, Talismanic. He is again drawn on the inside and against has the assistance of Barzalona in the saddle. Purely on value grounds and the fact we know he likes to travel outside of his native France, he must rate a big danger to all especially with the American challenge looking so weak. His form this year has been a little patchy but that’s no different to last year and I am prepared to forgive a below par run in the Arc.
Back Talismanic (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 17.00 Coral BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
Bet here:
Back Talismanic (w/o Enable) for a 1/10 stake at 7.50 William Hill
Bet here:
9.44: Classic
A cracking race for the Classic. You can make cases for several of these although I do feel it would be a remarkable training performance if Roaring Lion could win trying the surface for the first time. I’m going 2-pronged in this.
Catholic Boy is the one that seems to have gone under the radar and is a rapidly improving 3 year old. He narrowly won a couple of turf races but the race that put him firmly in the mix for this was his mightily impressive 4 lengths mauling of Mendelssohn in the Travers. That was by far and away his best performance and his trainer has kept him fresh for this with over 2 months off the track. He’s partnered again by Javier Castellano who is now 3 from 3 on the horse.
The 2nd bet is Thunder Snow and is based on his win in the Dubai World Cup where his jockey got the lead on the inside and never saw another horse coming home by over 5 lengths. Admittedly, the track favoured front runners that day but this could be a case of more of the same and with a draw in box 1, we could see history repeat itself. Add to that a dirt surface record of 4 wins and 3 2nds from just 8 starts, he’s a worthy each way bet.
Back Catholic Boy (e/w) for a 2/10 stake at 7.50 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
Bet here:
PLACED – Back Thunder Snow (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 17.00 Coral BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
Bet here:
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