Handicappers' Corner: Cox a Lethal Force in pattern race double

The question on everybody's lips on Saturday was could Strong Suit, who recorded a Timeform rating of 131 when winning last season's Challenge Stakes, return to his best in the Hungerford Stakes and find his way back into the winners' enclosure. The answer to both fragments of that question was no, as he ran to a figure of 118 and could only finish second to the Clive Cox-trained Lethal Force, however all is not lost.

Strong Suit really ought to have won, not seen to advantage in making a delayed effort and sure to have tasted success had he made his move sooner. It remains to be seen whether the four-year-old can return to the heights of last year, but he should build on this and it will be fascinating to see how he fares on his next start.

The Clive Cox yard could hardly be in better form and Lethal Force, in first-time blinkers, added further to their recent success. The three-year-old seemingly showed much improved form, running to a figure of 118, but the likelihood is that he was flattered in being allowed such an easy lead by his rivals and he will do well to repeat this effort.

Mount Athos, a most progressive five-year-old hailing from the Luca Cumani yard, made it three wins from as many starts in 2012 as he took the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes. Accredited with a career-best figure of 123, Mount Athos is a really likeable type who would be well up to competing in good races in Britain but will reportedly be aimed at the Melbourne Cup, a race in which Cumani has twice had to settle for second place with Purple Moon in 2007 and Bauer in 2008.

Brown Panther (122) ran creditably in second, making good headway before being unable to quicken towards the finish. He is essentially a stayer and it would be interesting to see him stepped up to two miles, with either the Doncaster Cup or the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day appealing as the best options. Modun (114) took a step forward on his second start in Britain this year though was still some way off his very best. He ought to build on this and move forward once more but, in contrast, last season's St Leger winner Masked Marvel (118) proved a disappointment and has plenty to prove for now.

A two-year-old that could be worth keeping on side is Just The Judge, as she took her Timeform rating to 101p having won Newbury's listed Washington Singer over seven furlongs. The race could have been run at a truer pace and, if anything, it disadvantaged the winner as she was held-up, but she quickened well to win by a length. She is likely to progress further and is well worth her place in pattern company, with the Fillies' Mile a likely end of season target.

Our attention briefly turns to Ripon now, as Pepper Lane, who had shown little in three starts this year, bounced back to record a career best and land the Great St Wilfrid Stakes 12 months on from success in the same race. In a first-time hood, Pepper Lane ran to a figure of 116, 3 lb higher than last year, and whilst she needs to prove that she can repeat this sort of performance away from Ripon, she is capable of making an impact in pattern races against her own sex.

More can be read on Saturday evening's US action, featuring a host of European runners, in our US Handicappers' Corner by clicking HERE.

Moving on to Sunday, where the focus switched to Deauville and the two Group 1 events on the card. The Prix Morny, a race over six furlongs for two-year-olds, went the way of the Clive Cox-trained Reckless Abandon, who extended his unbeaten start to his career in beating George Vancouver by three-quarters of a length. He is rated as the joint-best (with Dawn Approach) juvenile seen this season and is likely to be targeted at the Middle Park at the end of the season, with the colt possessing plenty of speed.

George Vancouver (106p) and Moohaajim (101p), who finished fifth, were arguably the ones to catch the eye in behind, the former apparently well thought of having attracted market support on his three starts in Ireland and doing well to make up ground from a long way back here. Moohaajim, thrown in at the deep end on just his second start having won an Ascot maiden, came from a similar position but was switched to the outside, receiving a bump but sticking on well. He is also entered in the Middle Park but may be better served by stepping up to seven furlongs in the Champagne Stakes or the Dewhurst.

The Prix Jean Romanet looked a solid contest, with Izzi Top, Galikova, Timepiece and Giofra all in attendance, but Snow Fairy, on her return from injury, proved too good for the lot of them as she won by three-quarters of a length, recording her sixth triumph at Group 1 level in the process. Running to a figure of 120, she proved that she possesses all of her ability and is most likely to be a force to be reckoned with in the top middle-distance races for the remainder of the season.