July 20 – One Look – 84
A flop in the Duke Of Cambridge at Royal Ascot, Paddy Twomey’s filly surged back to her best form with a gritty display on her first start over 1m2f and the time figure backed up the view it was by far and away her best performance so far to date. Clearly a much better filly with some juice in the ground, she now has plenty more options going forward and The Blandford Stakes was muted as the next obvious target for this likeable filly.
July 25 – Ascot – Pinhole – 85
Just the five runners in this 1m4f handicap, but King’s Code ensured the gallop was strong from the outset and provided the perfect platform for Ralph Beckett’s inmate to finally show his true worth. Touted as a potential Derby/Leger horse earlier in the season, his first two runs didn’t provide connections with too much encouragement for those lofty targets but on the evidence of this display, he could easily start making up for lost time. Clearly the beneficiary of the first-time cheekpieces, the son of Frankel will also be better suited by further in time.
July 25 – Thirsk – Lifeplan – 78
Just an ordinary novice event for juveniles on paper beforehand, but the speed figure suggests anything but and the winner could turn out to be quite useful. The fact Declan Carroll’s colt managed to beat several who had the benefit of previous experience with a degree of comfort backs up that view and one would imagine he can only improve for this initial outing. Entered in The Gimcrack at York, that lofty target does not seemed so far fetched as it might have looked at first glance.
July 25 – York – Sand Gazelle – 85
The Knavesmire can be quite a tricky place to make all the running, particularly at a decent gallop, but that is what John & Thady Gosden’s filly managed to achieve in this listed contest. Finding this sort of company more to her liking than the Group 1 rivals she faced previously, she can continue to thrive in a similar environment during the rest of the season and no doubt she will revisit the same track at a later date.
July 26 – York – Royal Champion – 93
Almaqam was all the rage beforehand for this Group 2 affair and although he may have disappointed some, the speed figure suggested he definitely ran his race in second and was just unfortunate to bump into a horse who knocked the ball out the park under more suitable conditions. The winner, himself, was a bit below-par at Royal Ascot but that performance was put down to a surface quicker than ideal and back on an easier terrain, he was seen to much better effect. The way he cruised through a race run behind a very strong gallop points to a horse capable of taking his game to an even higher level and although not in the Juddmonte Stakes back over the same C&D next month, there should still be plenty more options for Karl Burke’s inmate on easy ground between now and the end of the season. Of the trio of three-year-olds, Bay City Roller came out of the contest with the most credit considering he blew the start to the tune of eight lengths and he deserves another chance back among his own age group.
July 26 – Ascot – Cheshire Dancer – 86
For once, there seemed to be a whole host of strongly run races during last week and this fillies’ contest over a mile proved to be another worth noting. Chantilly Lace was the one responsible for the healthy tempo but she couldn’t keep up the gallop and was eventually picked off by a pair more patiently ridden rivals – including the winner, who was last turning for home. Although Hugo Palmer’s filly had a bit to find with old rival Royal Dress on their previous Pontefract encounter, her experience of the Berkshire enabled her to turn the tables and the combination of that fact and further improvement proved key.
July 26 – Ascot – Calandagan – 87
The pace wasn’t breakneck from the start but Jan Brueghel wound it up from some way out and it turned out to be the perfect set-up for the French raider, who put to bed any chat that he might be a bit of soft touch. He gained that reputation for series of runner-up efforts but there were always mitigating circumstances rather than any great aspersions needing to be cast in his direction and as he proved here, he is genuine top class over this trip off a sound pace. Not eligible for the Arc, other big prizes around the globe await this extremely talented gelding.
July 26 – Ascot – Cover Up – 87
The final race on the card, a sprint of far less magnitude, also produced a time figure of note and the winner came roaring back to form. Midfield in the Wokingham over the same course the previous month, Simon & Ed Crisford’s inmate was clearly better suited to this strongly run five and the decision to take him out of the Steward’s Cup this weekend looks a wise one on this evidence. Of the rest, Woolhampton did really well to finish as close as she did considering she was posted out on the wing and she is well worth noting when she returns to her favourite venue down in grade.
July 27 – Pontefract – Make My King – 88
The fact usual front runner Point Lynas couldn’t get to the front told its own story as to why this race produced such a big speed figure and the winner really thrived under such conditions. Always moving well, he picked up the running over a furlong out and from that juncture he readily held his rivals at bay. A five-year-old on the up, more pattern success can come his way when in a similar environment.