Spring Loaded threatened to be pigeonholed as merely an all-weather performer however his last few runs on the turf have been very strong. Positioned very wide and towards the rear, he ran on very well to be beaten only by a length-and-a-half at Chester, and is blessed with a tremendous change of gear. This big prize looks tailor-made.
Home of the Brave stands out on the figures and his yard couldn’t be any hotter, but he comes with a weather warning. Only if it stays dry will he take his chance, so he looks the cornerstone of all your accumulator bets – if they let him run he’s a very strong selection, so let’s hope it stays dry.
Find all the latest racing odds over at PaddyPower.comDream Today came out on top in the convivial maiden at York worth a staggering £43,000 to the winner. The form is looking incredibly strong, with the third-placed Laugh a Minute coming out and winning the big two-year-old race at Doncaster earlier in the week. There was no fluke about it and he could just be the top-notcher that the Johnson team are looking for.
Crystal Ocean was so impressive when winning over a shorter distance at Goodwood. He looks the class of an excellent renewal for the St Leger – although, again, he will want the rain to stay away and his main danger Capri wants softer conditions. Sometimes a horse just jumps off the page at you and this one has all the gears for the final classic.
Viscount Loftus brings in a pretty solid record having won two of his three races to date. The Yarmouth victory on Gayview was followed by a disappointing run in the Norfolk stakes at Royal Ascot, but he bounced straight back to form by winning a tidy novice contest at Pontefract. Stall number two is a perfect position to attack and he can lead the rest a merry dance.
Across the Stars looks to have been found a soft listed contest to get his career back on track. Twice this season he has shot too high in much tougher company and now he has his sights lowered. He’s got very low mileage for a four-year-old, only having his 11th start to date and his official rating of 113 shouldn’t be his ceiling.
Kings Pavilion, currently at 7/1, should hold a class advantage in this lineup and on official ratings he still looks well treated on his best form. At his zenith he has produced a mid-90s rating and after his last success he sits in here on a mark of 91. Dan Troop is likely to go off a well backed favourite but he looks vulnerable to me with a climb in the handicap and our selection can go in at rewarding odds.
*All prices correct at time of posting
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