In the Palace House Stakes there is no Sole Power, perhaps because of his Group 1 penalty, which does at least open up the betting. The problem is that the fitness of several of the principals, like Pearl Secret, Kingsgate Native and Wind Fire has to be taken on trust. Likely favourite Watchable chased home Astaire on the course at the Craven Meeting and has to be respected, although dropping back to five furlongs. Stepper Point has to give away a Group 3 penalty but strips race fit from Meydan and acquitted himself well in top sprints last year, including this one.
The Jockey Club Stakes is very disappointing and all attention will undoubtedly be on Sir Michael Stoute’s Telescope. Andre Fabre’s Manatee (owned by Godolphin France) was entered but they have decided to stay at home. Whilst chief opponent Pether’s Moon is race fit it is hard to see him giving weight away.
The 2000 Guineas throws up two conundrums: can we rely on those who are coming here fresh to uphold their two-year-old form or do we take the scant three-year-old form available at face value? Gleneagles passed the post first in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère but that does not match up to Elm Park’s impressive win in the Racing Post Trophy (Celestial Path behind). The question mark about the latter may be the ground. Ol’ Man River puts his unbeaten record on the line and would not be the first Ballydoyle second string to come good. Neither Estidhkaar nor Ivawood won their trial race but at least they have race fitness, as does over-priced Kool Kompany, who appears to be the stable second string despite winning the Craven with Moheet and Hail The Hero behind. Free Handicap winner Home Of The Brave may have competition for the lead from maiden winner Intilaaq and Kool Kompany. This could set the race up for the Andre Fabre runner for Godolphin France, Territories, who has clearly been diverted here from Longchamp because connections see this as an open race with more prestige than the French equivalent. He finished behind Gleneagles in a rough Lagardère and got promoted to second but he won the Prix de Fontainbleau easily on debut so he has race fitness on his old rival.
The Newmarket Stakes looks dangerously like a penalty kick for Racing Post Trophy runner-up Aloft, although that was on soft ground. Rocky Rider and Azmaam were beaten by Ballydoyle’s Cape Clear Island at the Craven Meeting, so they should have a line on them; whilst Tempus Temporis and Balios have only raced on polytrack and are unknowns. That pretty much leaves Godolphin’s Best Of Times as the one having picked up a couple of small races last autumn and still having plenty of potential.
Newmarket
14:30 Stepper Point
15:45 Territories
16:55 Best Of Times
