Events / Paul Jacobs / 26 August 2009 /

The form lines point to a victory for Delegator in Saturday afternoon's big race.

It's hardly rocket science to assume that the strongest form lines from a mile to a mile and a half this year are all linked to the superstar that is Sea The Stars and as such Saturday's Celebration Mile should represent an easy play in the form of Guineas' and St James's Palace runner-up Delegator.

On any normal ante-post play I would be looking to oppose the newly recruited Godolphin charge especially at a price which is foreign to me in the world of ante-post betting of even-money ([2.0]).

However, the Celebration Mile looks a moderate renewal to say the very least and I'm not surprised that dual Group Three winner Mac Love has been supplemented for the event at a cost of £10,000 such is the lack of strength in depth in the contest.

However, my private ratings have the selection some 4lbs clear of the eight-year-old Cesare with another 5lbs back to Stef Liddiard's charge.

So let's justify this play even further by looking more in depth into the three-year-old's form.

His victory in the Craven Stakes this season was eye catching in the extreme and saw him sent off the [4.0] favourite for the 2,000 Guineas ahead of Rip Van Winkle ([5.5]), Evasive [7.5], Mastercraftsman ([8.0]), Gan Amhras ([8.5]) and Sea The Stars ([9.0]).

After quickening up superbly at the two furlong pole and looking the likely winner, he had nothing left in the locker when Sea The Stars came stands' side to deliver his late challenge to grab the classic spoils.

So did he truly stay the demanding mile trip or is there a character trait to be wary of?

For me that question was answered at Royal Ascot where he looked likely to gain compensation when forging to the front at distance only for Mastercraftsman to fight back on the rails and regain the initiative close home.

There is little doubt in my mind that Delegator stays the trip, but I suspect he has to be delivered as late as possible with his electric turn of foot to grab the spoils and not allow his rivals a second bite of the cherry.

Of course this is a step down in grade for the selection and his nearest rival on the figures, Cesare, is better on a more galloping track, but I still suspect that Frankie Dettori will try and hold him up until as long as possible.

As for his price of around even-money, well in the light of his display at York what would you be happy to take about Mastercraftsman in this event?

Add to the fact he has worked well at Newmarket in the last few weeks and I think we go can open up with a play on Delegator at around even-money.

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