Handicappers' Corner: Tiger takes Ebor honours

With so much to cover in the latest instalment of Handicappers' Corner we're going to have to be ruthlessly brief with each race, and the most sensible way to proceed is chronologically. Therefore we shall kick off with Telescope's win in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur, a performance which catapulted him to the top of the St Leger market. 

Although not improving upon the form shown when winning at Leicester on his reappearance, it was encouraging that Telescope (119) managed to back up that effort after a blip in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Goodwood, going someway to justifying his lofty reputation but still leaving him some way to go before he's up to Group 1 standard. 

Connections have stated that supplementing him for the Doncaster classic is a possibility but both his exuberance and turn of foot were in evidence here and there would have to be stamina doubts were he to tackle the extended 14 furlongs on Town Moor, and it could just be that keeping him in calmer waters until next year will pay dividends in the long term. 

The 2013 renewal of the Juddmonte International was an eagerly-anticipated one, particularly the clash between Toronado and Al Kazeem, but with that pair both below par it was something of an underwhelming affair. That is to take nothing away from Declaration of War, who deserves full credit for how tough and consistent he has been at the top level this season, adding this success to his victory in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. The four-year-old barely needed to improve on his previous form to claim victory, and he is now rated 127. 

The main focus on Thursday at York was the Yorkshire Oaks, won in emphatic fashion by The Fugue. It was a relatively uncompetitive renewal with none of the three-year-olds being real top-notchers, and the withdrawal of Wild Coco also contributing, but it was a well-run affair that allowed the best horse to come out comfortably on top, improving her Timeform rating to 123 in the process, and she could well put right her unlucky defeat at the Breeders' Cup last year.

Lucky Kristale (109) didn't need to improve to land the Lowther Stakes, running to a performance figure of 106, but that in part is due to the field finishing in something of a heap and the proximity of both Azagal and Merletta in particular raising caution. She was value for extra however, overcoming a hold-up ride off what was a steady pace, and it was actually quite impressive that she managed to put a length and a half between herself and the second at the line; the Cheveley Park could be on her agenda and she will be up with the best of any potential line-up.

Robert Cowell's Jwala caused a major shock in the Nunthorpe, improving her master rating to 119 as she fended off both Shea Shea and Sole Power at the finish. The latter-mentioned pair are established Group 1 performers and should probably have been fighting out the finish but were set too much to do in relation to the winner, and it is possible that neither were totally suited by the slight ease in the ground. 

There was no Estimate in the Lonsdale Cup but it was a field representative of the staying division, with the race developing into a protracted battle between Ahzeemah and Simenon. The former found the requisite improvement to break through at Group 2 level on just his third start beyond 14 furlongs; he is now rated 119 and both him and the second are likely to continue to run with credit in races of this ilk.

The main event on Saturday was the Ebor, with the 2013 renewal being as competitive as ever even when taking into account the six on-the-day absentees cause by overnight rain. The form among the principals stacks up well, with the winner Tiger Cliff maintaining a long-standing pattern of race-by-race progress and improving his rating to 113p in the process. A return to two miles, or even further, will almost certainly suit and there is no reason to think that this will be his limit, with good staying handicaps, or better, firmly on his radar. 

Dark Crusader (104p) further enhanced her strike race with success in the Melrose Stakes whilst Astaire (108p) didn't really need to improve to land the Group 2 Gimcrack; the latter's form is some way off the best juvenile colts seen so far, but there is reason to believe that he will continue to improve.

The suspicion prior to the Celebration Mile was that Afsare's improvement at Salisbury the time before was more down to circumstance rather than him suddenly being a superior performer, but he confirmed all of that progression with success in this Group 2, looking as though he could well be competitive at Group 1 level in the near future. Now rated 123+, Afsare looks sure to give a good account wherever he turns up next. 

Goodwood also played host to racing on Sunday, with the highlight being the Group 3 Supreme Stakes. A worthy race for the grade beforehand it was less so in event, with several of the big guns failing to fire, and it was left to Lockwood (116) to repel Boom And Bust at the finish. The third, Professor, may have prevailed had he got going sooner but he at least confirmed his stamina for seven furlongs. 

Have you checked out our new, improved Facebook page? It's the place to go for our features & tips!