Just six face the starter for the St James’s Palace: Aktabantay: Hugo Palmer’s charge makes his first appearance of 2015 after being well beaten in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc Day last October, previous to which he won the five runner Solario Stakes at Sandown. Belardo: was last season’s top-rated two-year-old after winning the Dewhurst Stakes but has been well beaten in the Greenham Stakes and the Irish 2000 Guineas this term. Consort: Sir Michael Stoute’s grey is unbeaten in two starts, but his latest effort in a Listed race suggests that plenty is still needed. Gleneagles: winner of the Newmarket 2000 Guineas and the Irish 2000 Guineas, leaving pretty little to be said. Latharnach: runner-up in the Listed King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket following a couple of novice victories, so unexposed. Make Believe: winner of the ‘Poulains’ (French 2000 Guineas) on just his second start. Unproven on ground quicker than ‘good’ but otherwise has plenty of potential. This looks like a bit of a no-brainer, so what does anybody else think?
It's not a race I'll be getting involved in but will take a keen interest in watching it. As much as I think Gleneagles will win, it's not one I'd be sticking the mortgage on, there's a few dangers lurking and a couple of unknowns. Can't really knock Consort, what he's done so far he has done well, whether he's up to this standard is another story but I wouldn't write him off. The French horse could be anything, the form with New Bay looks decent now after he won the French Derby, he beat New Bay quite convincingly. He's been supplemented at a cost of £35k, think they could have big belief in this horse and he's the danger to Gleneagles. Belardo has been disappointing so far this year, totally bombed out in the Greenham and his 4th in the Irish 2000 when beaten just over a length by Gleneagles probably flatters him, in reality he was never any real danger to Gleneagles and it's hard to make a case for him reversing that form, the only positive you could say is that Varian is in good form at the moment. Good luck to anyone having a punt in the race.
I will be backing Gleneagles with a big bet, how big depends on how Sole Power and Solow do in the earlier races.
That is a real problem with form sometimes. We don't know how a horse was feeling in any race. If the jockey knows the horse and doesn't force the issue because the horse isn't running to anywhere near the capability shown at home, who's to know how many lengths can be made up, other than the jockey and the trainer?
Even though I backed Gleneagles in the Guineas, I've always felt he's looked a tad workmanlike in everything he does. So I've backed the French horse Make Believe to beat him, as I think 4/1 is to big for a horse who ran away with the French Guineas. They obviously train Territories aswell, who I fancy gives them a nice line on Gleneagles, and that's why they've stumped up the cash to supplement as they fancy there chances against him
Not very much learned from that five runner race. I suppose Frankie decided it was best to try and make all on Consort in search of his fiftieth Royal Ascot winner. The Poulains winner Make Believe clearly did not like the ground and never threatened. All Gleneagles could do was win but the proximity of the runner-up Latharnach means that either he is progressing well (beaten in Listed race last time) or this year’s three-year-old milers are not that special. Granted the winner was not hard ridden to assert.
Yeah I think so Beefy, I feel silly for opposing him after that rout. He's clearly a serious horse on firm ground
He hardly beat anything. Good looking performance though. Think Coolmore would be better off keeping him at a mile though. Don't see him beating Golden Horn over 10f.
Disappointed with Make Believe. He won the French 2000 Guineas in a quick time and I thought the quicker ground was going to suit him. Obviously not. This was essentially a 'match race' between the two.
Go slow he wins. Go fast he wins. Very uncomplicated animal, gears, quickens and stays the trip. Haven't seen anything this season to beat him anyway.
Well done to horse and connections. Four group ones in three different countries. Not afraid to put him on a plane.
Hes a decent miler, looked much better today on that ground and hes a better horse than I thought he was after the Curragh. I rate the 2nd and 3rd higher than most and actually had a saver on Latharnach at 50s but im not sure he or Consort are really Group 1 milers. Consort should have been in the Tercentenary I think. That said, Gleneagles was different class today and he is a real Group 1 miler, the only one of his generation as far as I can see. Would be good to see him step up to 1m2 and take on Golden Horn as they look different class and it would be the race of the season, but its not necessary and probably wont happen.
Solow v Gleneagles in the Sussex would be nice. You'd probably have to fancy the younger horse, looking at what Solow beat today over a mile! A Grade 2 at best mare, and a horse whose only win was in a listed sprint at Naas Albeit Gleneagles bare form today is worse, it was the way he won so easily...there was plenty left under that big bonnet. He looks a champion to me anyway
The second is a decent filly on her day, not the most reliable but capable at Group 1 level in the fillies division, looked too big a price to me in what I thought was an over hyped race. I think the St James Palace form will be franked, they are no mugs he beat today, just not top milers. Solow is a solid horse but id much prefer to see Golden Horn vs Gleneagles and I think that would be a much bigger event for the sport. Not that id even consider the possibility of Gleneagles beating Golden Horn at 10f! But would be a good spectacle.
I'd definately be with Gleneagles if he where to face Solow aswell. I'm not convinced that today's Queen Anne form was particularly strong. Able Friend bombed on the straight track, whilst I'm far from convinced Night Of Thunder ran his race
Gleneagles v Goldon Horn would be some race, before today I'd of said Golden Horn all day long, but Gleneagles was very impressive today, and I think the step up in trip would suit him. So I'd struggle to split the pair
Least we can agree there's a decent pair of 3 year olds about, even if the pecking order hasn't been decided but I'd bet heavily it'll be GLENEAGLES crowned champion 3 yo when the season ends
I'd be on Golden Horn over 10f Gleneagles will probably have the measure of Solow due to the weight for age
If you think that Gleneagles is going to show up for the Eclipse Stakes to take on Golden Horn, the sponsors will accommodate you at 8/1. It would appear more likely that Gleneagles will go to the Sussex Stakes but my suspicion is that Solow will not be going to Goodwood as there are decent prizes to be had staying at home like the Prix Jean Prat on the 12th July at Chantilly. If you want to see Golden Horn, Gleneagles and Solow in one place that might have to wait until the Juddmonte International at York or the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
