With no time to assess the racing this morning, I missed the opportunity to look at the first three from the Middle Park Stakes meeting again in the Commonwealth Cup Trial, with the winner Wise Approach penalised taking on Brussels and Coppull on 4lb worse terms. As it turned out Coppull beat the rank outsider to the prize money and the two that finished ahead of him in the Group 1 were out with the washing today, Charlie Appleby's Wise Approach only fifth and Aidan O'Brien's Brussels one place behind him.
A disappointing card to start the Classic weekend at HQ (only double figure field the closing handicap), although only six facing the starter for the Jockey Club Stakes (3.35) is par for the course with the better older horses avoiding penalties when there are other warm-up races available and most of the field usually comprised of older horses that run at this level all season and a few handicappers on the upgrade.
With Bay City Roller giving it a miss, the betting looks more like that on a greyhound race. The outsider Paradias is taking quite a step up in class since last being seen on the Newcastle kitty litter and can surely only win here if it becomes tactical. Seven year old Eydon had two years off but won a Group 2 in Italy and the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes last term, where Sunway was only fifth. Sunway has been campaigned over further, winning a Group 3 over foruteen furlongs at Meydan, and is hard to fancy over a trip that he has never been victorious over. French Master has also been campaigned over further and the Frankel gelding was second last in the Ebor and is perhaps warming up for the Yorkshire Cup or a staying race at Ascot. Santorini Star has Group 1 form to her name, having gone down to Consent in the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu at the Arc meeting when well fancied. The mare graduated from handicaps to pattern company quickly last autumn but all of that form was over longer distances and her only win at this trip was a Goodwood handicap last May. So that leaves Lion's Pride, winner of a Listed race over course and distance but well beaten in Bahrain over a shorter trip. He was favourite for the John Porter at this trip but faltered in the final furlong to go from looking like the winner to only coming home fourth to Convergent. With race fitness on his side he looks the best option in a weak Group 2; however, it looks impossible to determine how this race will be run so I have left my betting boots in the garage.
