2.30 NIGHT OF THUNDER 5/1 e.w
With 8 set to run, a horse who has only been out of the first 3 when tried at 10f at Sandown in a Coral Eclipse, last years 2000 Guineas winner can go very close to toppling his international rivals. He ses out a mile really well and it looks his optimum distance and ground.
The favourite is a potential star but until he answers the questions tomorrow (e.g did he beat a peak Grey Gatsby in Dubai? Is he better at 10f?) he has to prove it, so Night Of Thunder to run to a true Group1 level and ask questions of the other two. Able Friend for me may find the straight mile and stiff track quite a surprise.
3.05 AIR FORCE BLUE 7/1
I think the form of his maiden looks really, really solid and although a little green under pressure, there was a great cruising speed and a lovely turn of foot at the 2f pole to go clear and just see it out from a ready next time out winner. (Rockaway Valley beat a seemingly very nicely regarded Weld filly called JULIETTE FAIR-she shaped beautifully by the way, and the 3rd has also won nicely since) I think if he steps forward even further (allowed to go off at 4/1 on debut), he might seriously take some pegging back.
The favourite for me has formlines that don't really back up Jim Bolgers bullish words, but he is a man who doesn't talk nonsense and therefore I respect his chances.
3.40 G FORCE 9/1
David O'Meara is surely going to become a familiar name in big events over the next few years and he thinks G Force is showing the speed this year to be truly competitive in top class 5f races. If you have a look close enough last year, he was a desperately unlucky 5th behind todays favourite Sole Power when hampered and rattling home like a train. He then went on to taste Group1 success over 6f at Haydock.
He was almost brought down on reappearance so can be forgiven, and can land this with a late old rattle if the gaps appear.
4.20 CONSORT 11/2
This looks by far Gleneagles toughest field as I think the 2000 Guineas looked below standard and was missing some key market rivals.
He had a hard race last time out in Ireland and had to be very brave. It is a smaller field here and whilst he is the rightful favourite, Consort looked a top level miler from the second he debuted last season and to miss the Guineas but then win a Sandown listed race despite histting all sorts of trouble and being unfancied, the step forward fitness wise and his ability to go from the front if required puts him in with a chance of making this favourite work.
Make Believe was drawn perfectly in his French Guineas and other than the 2nd, who looked the unlucky loser that day, I don't think the opposition was upto much.
