Kingman justified his status as unbeaten favourite for the first Classic with a facile victory in the Greenham Stakes, albeit against a field of unknown quality as most of them had reputations rather than racecourse form. It is hard to envisage a scenario where runner-up Night Of Thunder will reverse the placings.
In the betting, the principal rival is unbeaten Australia, a son of two Classic winners, who thrashed Free Eagle over a mile as a juvenile. Whilst his fitness has to be taken on trust and the stable hype is an annual event, there is every prospect that he will be involved in the finish. The Derby betting could see a serious shake-up if he flops or wins.
Champion two year old Toormore has done nothing wrong and was successful on his seasonal bow over course and distance in the Craven Stakes, although that form has probably been unreasonably denigrated; so he should not be written off. No reason that runner-up The Grey Gatsby should reverse the form when worse off at levels.
A wide-margin victory in the Racing Post Trophy marked Kingston Hill out as a more likely middle-distance contender than miler; however, he is not totally without a chance with the stiff Rowley Mile finish to bring his stamina to the fore.
War Command won the Dewhurst Stakes against a small field and was a surprise six-length winner of the Coventry Stakes at Ascot. His decidedly ordinary third to Sudirman in the Phoenix Stakes has not been explained but he would not be the first O’Brien second-string to win at Newmarket.
There is only one piece of form on which to assess Noozhoh Canarias, his second to Karakontie in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardére, and his front-running style may not be advantageous here.
Outstrip won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf after a respectable third in the Dewhurst Stakes and victory in the Champagne Stakes. He contested several top quality races as a two year old and is not a forlorn hope if fit enough to do himself justice.
Shifting Power needs to find some improvement if his efforts in the Free Handicap are going to prove good enough to get involved here, a comment that is more marked for maiden winner Master The World, who looks to have more than a stone to find on the ratings. Whether Ertijaal can convert his fibresand form to turf or not, it still does not look good enough to challenge here.
The victory of Charm Spirit in the Prix Djebel is difficult to assess as the French trials are invariably inconclusive, but his trainer is no mug and he is not just coming for a day out. Behind him that day was twice-raced Bookrunner.
Given the draws they have been handed, there does not appear to be much prospect of the two market leaders eyeballing each other until quite late in the race...
