No advice today but here are one or two pointers.
South Kensington (8.30 Southwell) caught the eye with the way he shaped in a well-run race at Wolves last time out and was considered as a bet until his overnight price (5-2) contracted to his current odds of 6-4. Although he is still regarded as most likely to build on that promising effort, his price is too short to get excited about.
I quite like the way Euphonia won at Leicester last time out and was on the shortlist as a possible bet but the change in conditions to soft rather put those plans on hold.
Over in France today, the Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse (7.50) is one of many highlights and I can pass on a good word for Caballo De Mar. He was due to go straight to Royal Ascot but his trainer has been very happy with him at home and suggests another run in between his exploits in the Sagaro and June won’t do him any harm – he thrives on racing. The only concern with those plans would have been very soft ground, but the latest reports from the track suggest the conditions are just on the easy side of good – and not very soft as stated in the trade papers – and that will be fine for Caballo. He will be ridden in his usual fashion just on the shoulder of whatever leads – likely to be Double Major or Rashford – and once sent for home, we know he stays very well. At top price 8-1 this morning, he looks to have been slightly underestimated despite the strong field.
KING CHARLES III STAKES PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
ROYAL ASCOT TUESDAY JUNE 16
As we all know, the sprint division at the highest level in recent times has been extremely unpredictable and almost anything can win one of the big Group 1’s on any given day, granted the right conditions, a favourable draw and being on the right side of the track, pace-wise.
Last year’s winner of the King Charles, American Affair, was a case in point, starting his season off in handicaps before working his through the ranks onto Royal Ascot glory.
Although Jim Goldie’s inmate got beaten in the Temple Stakes prior to Ascot, he was considered an unlucky loser and this weekend’s Group 2 at Haydock should provide punters with some similar valuable clues regards the possible outcome at the Berkshire venue in a month’s time.
At this stage last year, American Affair (rated 105 at the time) was roughly a 33-1 chance to succeed at Ascot, and it would come as no surprise to see something trading at similar odds or even bigger to shorten dramatically after events at the Merseyside track.
Currently, soft, heavy in places for Saturday’s showpiece, the outcome may not go exactly according to form and the one who might benefit most from the prevailing conditions and thus, thrust himself into the conversation for the King Charles is GETREADYTORUMBLE.
Jack Channon’s grey doesn’t necessarily need soft ground to be at his best, he has won on good-to-firm, but he is likely to as inconvenienced as some at Haydock and the market moves in his direction for the weekend’s race (12-1 into roughly half those odds) are very much impending a positive run.
Based on his previous outing, his seasonal debut at Naas, it is easy to see why the son of Rumble Inthejugle has come in for such support and it was a performance that hinted he could be the surprise package in the sprinting division this season.
Held up towards the rear at the Kildare venue, the four-year-old was noted travelling strongly in behind the pace but unlike eventual winner, Mission Central, who received a charmed run up the favoured stands side rail, he got no run whatsoever over towards the middle of the course.
Finishing off his race very strongly, he left the impression he might have won with a clear run and considering that was not only his first run of the season but just his second in pattern company, his effort also needed upgrading.
Moreover, the winner has gone on to prove the value of form by going in again back over the same C&D next time and with Aidan O’Brien’s gelding now trading around the 12-1 mark for the King Charles, it is very easy to make a strong case for Getreadytorumble being value at five times the price.
Additionally, Getreadytorumble has already proved he can handle Ascot with an excellent effort behind Shagraan on his final start last season and on the evidence of his only start this season, it is safe to say he looks as though he has improved significantly.
GETREADYTORUMBLE – 1/2 point each-way@40-1
Andy H