Defy anyone to pick anything with confidence today...
It should be really easy to find ones to leave alone. Let us start with the Gold Cup – Stradivarius. No question he is the best horse in the race but the Long Distance Cup was his only win on soft, with Thomas Hobson, Flag Of Honour and Cypress Creek behind. Cross Counter won the Melbourne Cup on bad ground so the extra half mile is the question. Dee Ex Bee has looked like a natural stayer in two lesser races this term, has won on heavy ground and Silvestre de Sousa will certainly earn his fee as the horse is very workmanlike. Is he the new Double Trigger?
The Ribblesdale is normally where the Oaks also-rans meet the unexposed types that skipped Epsom. So which of these fillies has feet like dinner plates? Fleeting comes here after running into third at Epsom with Frankellina behind, neither of them having encountered real soft ground. Fleeting has plenty of miles on the clock, so some of the unexposed ones may well improve past her. Interesting difference in the prices for Queen Power and Star Catcher, separated by half a length at York; but the latter the choice of Frankie from Gosden’s (although Sparkle Roll’s owner retains a jockey). With the strong hand that Gosden has here, how he instructs the jockeys to play it could be critical.
Usually in the Hampton Court there is something with a reputation but that does not seem to be the case this year. Fox Chairman comes in off just two starts, most recently third to Circus Maximus in the Dee Stakes on easy ground; but he does not want to be staying on from the rear today. King Ottokar perhaps did not get home behind Sir Dragonet in the Chester Vase (Arthur Kitt behind), drops down in trip here and likes soft ground, so he must make the shortlist. I can only think that Sangarius is a shorter price than Roseman – ahead of him last time out – because of his home address and Frankie being aboard, with both stepping up from a mile. Highland Reel’s brother Cape Of Good Hope ran a respectable race in the Prix Du Jockey Club (Kick On behind) and that is the best form on offer. I expect Moore to make plenty of use of him, as he did in the Blue Riband Trial when Cap Francais and Arthur Kitt (stumbled) were behind. The ground seems to be against many of the others, including Kick On. Great Scot was a close third in Germany last time after finishing behind Kick On in the Guineas and is a proven performer on heavy ground.
