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Capulet has best form on offer and deserves to be fav
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River Tiber has fair shot of reversing form with Vandeek
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Saga has chances if it all clicks but the fav looks solid
The Justify colt did it nicely on his debut at Dundalk last month and he obviously improved a good deal when running Diego Velazquez to ½ length at Leopardstown last time. That form looked strong at the time and it looks even better now with the well-beaten fourth, Deepone, coming out and winning the Beresford next time.
All of these have the potential to take a big step forward, most notably Ghostwriter maybe, but he deserves to be the favourite as it stands, as the Leopardstown form is the best on offer going into the race.
Relief Rally is rock-solid and is obviously the justified favourite but an official rating of 106 tells you this Group 1 is pretty much up for grabs.
We run Cherry Blossom and Pearls And Rubies, who both clearly need to improve, but my mount Cherry Blossom was only a length behind Relief Rally in the Lowther and has obviously taken her Curragh run last weekend well.
I'll also give a shout to Soprano, as she has form against some of the better fillies this season and she is just a very solid operator.
Third to Shuwari and Fallen Angel at Sandown, she then chased home the runner-up and subsequent Moyglare winner on the July course and she could easily have won at Salisbury for me last time on another day, as we were very slowly away and she did exceptionally well to come home so strongly on the near side to take an unlikely third to Juniper Berries.
Winner of a very good Coventry, he had a well publicised setback before the Morny last time, so we were very happy with his third to Vandeek there, beaten just over 2 lengths. He wasn't at peak fitness, and I thought he shaped very well in the circumstances. I would expect him to get a lot closer to the winner here, and I'd say we had a very fair shot at winning this Group 1. He's in good shape.
He has plenty of big-field handicap form, including over course and distance back in May, so he certainly has his chance if at all clicks for him. However, it is probably fair to say he has no secrets from the handicapper from his current mark now.
If things go the way of the favourite Greek Order then he could be hard to beat - I know him very well and he looks better than a 95-rated handicapper to me - but do you want be taking short prices in 35-runner handicaps, especially as the draw can play a huge role in this race? Probably not, but if any horse can prove himself a Lord North type in here it is undoubtedly him.
She is a Frankel filly out of a decent 7f winner of ours, and she is related to some very smart performers. She goes nicely but I'd say we would be satisfied with a solid run with plenty to build on, with winning a bonus.
She looks a progressive type and I'd say a mark of 79 gives her every chance in this nursery judged on that Windsor win last time.