/ Editor / 21 June 2007 / Leave a Comment

Aidan O'Brien's all-conquering stable has been in terrific form at Royal Ascot and You'resothrilling looks another potential winner for the Irish maestro, in the 6f Albany Stakes at 14:30.

Mick Kinane's mount safely holds May Day Queen, who could only finish third when the pair clashed in the 6f Group 2 Swordlestown Sprint Stakes at Naas. Nicely drawn up the centre of track where the action has been all week, You'resothrilling hold plenty of aces.

It is possible Loch Jipp was flattered by her listed Hilary Needler Beverley (5f) success, by virtue of the fact she was racing on the faster strip of ground towards the stands' side. Nonetheless, she's still two from three as far as career starts go and it'll be a brave investor who lays the speedy daughter of Belong To Me to big money.

Janina easily had the measure of Loch Jipp when the pair were 1st and 6th respectively in a 5f York contest, however the latter stumbled leaving the gates and might not have given her true running. Janina is also badly drawn in stall one, which is like a red rag to bull for those layers believing it's impossible to win from what has virtually been the "coffin box" on the straight course at the meeting.

There was plenty to like about the battling qualities shown by Liberty Belle, when she fended off a Pixie's Blue at Newmarket over 6f. John Best's two-year-old is the type to relish the heat of battle and for sheer guts alone, might be worth including in win and place calculations.

There is precious little between Liberty Belle and Festoso, so some players will be keeping an eagle eye on the duo to see if they can exploit the in-running situation to their advantage.

Baffled was a well-backed favourite on her Lingfield (6f) debut, but she only scraped home by a short-head and even with Frankie Dettori's assistance might struggle, since the combination are now taking a massive hike in class.

There was plenty to like about the way Eileen's Violet came from the clouds to cut down her Windsor (5f) rivals. She looks sure to appreciate this extra furlong and cannot be discounted in a wide-open event.

Lucarno to frank Derby form

The Derby form comes under scrutiny in Royal Ascot's King Edward VII Stakes at 15:05 when the fourth home at Epsom, Lucarno, bids to resume his winning ways.

Prior to chasing Authorized's shadow, John Gosden's colt had won both his 1m Kempton maiden and a listed Newmarket (1m2f) contest with energy to spare. It's impossible to know whether the hard race Lucarno had in the Derby will have left its' mark, however that's the risk traders will have to take if they are to invest on the three-year-old.

Wherever Lucarno finishes, Salford Mill, shouldn't be too far behind, David Elsworth's Derby runner was just over one length adrift of the Gosden horse in sixth spot, with Yellowstone, well held in eighth. Salford Mill might well be better suited by this more conventional track, and there'll be plenty wanting to back him in the belief he can reverse the Epsom form with Lucarno.

Boscobel, who ran away from a small field to land Hamilton's listed Glasgow Stakes over 1m3f, is an interesting contender. Mark Johnston had a plethora of middle-distance three-year-olds to choose from for this Group 2, so the fact the Middleham handler picked the Sheikh Mohammed-owned colt speaks volumes for his chances.

Any market moves for emphatic Chester (1m2f) maiden winner, Al Tharib, need to be monitored. The Stoute team have an abundance of talent to test this type of unexposed individual on the gallops, so connections will know precisely where they stand.

The same sort of comments apply to Harland, who was much too good for Eradicate when the pair clashed in a Newmarket (1m2f) maiden. The latter has turned out to useful, strongly suggesting the lightly-raced Harland might yet turn out to be top-class.

Another maiden winner, Lion Sands, made mincemeat of his 1m4f Haydock rivals. By sire of the minute, Montjeu, plus trained by Luca Cumani, he doesn't look one to lay to serious cash.

Michael Bell's Spice Route had to be driven out to win a York Handicap and he's got well over a stone to find with the principals on the official ratings.

Mi Emma worth her place in red-hot Coronation

Assessing foreign form isn't always easy, however the scintillating nine-length victory from Mi Emma in the Group 2 German 1,000 Guineas appears to give her a live chance for Royal Ascot's 1m Group 1 Coronation Stakes (15:45).

Whether Mi Emma can mount a serious challenge in such a red-hot affair remains to be seen, however wide-margin scorers in Classic contests should always be of interest to the discerning investor, with Andreas Wohler's raider likely to represent good win and place value in a tight market.

Dual English and Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine, Finsceal Beo, is both high-class and very tough, nonetheless she was all out to win the latter Group 1 Classic, which was her third hard race in row. Jim Bolger wouldn't be crossing the Irish Sea if he thought his star three-year-old wasn't 110%, nonetheless there always the possibility Finsceal Beo's busy campaign could finally catch up with her.

Arch Swing, runner-up to Finsceal Beo in the English Guineas but last in the Irish equivalent, faces an uphill task attempting to reverse that pair of high-profile defeats.

Finsceal Beo's head conquerer in the French 1,000 Guineas, Darjina, is unbeaten in three starts and commands the utmost respect. Christophe Soumillon's mount will relish the easing underfoot conditions, a point which might well be confirmed prior to the contest if the market stacks up in her favour.

It's very hard to get away from the three Guineas' heroines, but the French Guineas third, Rahiyah, is still on the upgrade and holds fair claims to sneak into the frame and reward place backers.

Mick Channon's Majestic Roi caused a 25-1 boil-over when coming from last to first to touch off Indian Ink in Newbury's 7f Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes. She's since run with great credit at Chantilly, but seeing as Indian Ink was well beaten by Finsceal Beo in the English Guineas, the pair don't have the form in the book to threaten the principals.

Silk Blossom ran too badly to be true when beating only one home in the Fred Darling. Barry Hills is a brilliant trainer of fillies and considering his representative was one of the best of her generation in 2006, it might be unwise to write off the daughter of Barathea just yet.