John Gosden’s runner put up a very good performance on his racecourse debut when winning over a mile. That suggested that a step up in trip would not go amiss but he went up to Haydock and tried to give a whopping 7lb to Kadar who runs later on this card in a Group 3 contest! That may well turn out to be a huge performance from Waldstern and this lad will stay all day so the 10f trip should be no problem.
Has solid two-year-old form behind the likes of Gustav Klimt in the Superlative Stakes at HQ, he was then highly tried at the start of his three-year-old campaign. It looked as if they learnt how to ride him properly last time when he was given a bit of a chance in the early stages over 1m 4f when he beat Jabbar. Let’s hope they ride him the same way again now he’s dropped back in trip.
Put up an excellent display on debut at Haydock showing a really good change of gear later on to win convincingly. His trainer was talking about him being a 2,000 Guineas horse for next season. If that’s the case he should be winning this with his head in his chest. The French contender Persian King, adds some real spice to the contest and guarantees us a bit of value at the prices.
Seemed to learn a massive amount from his debut at Carlisle when going on to beat a red-hot favourite up at Ayr in bloodless fashion. He was then demoted after being first past the post at Thirsk. He was subsequently sent to Kempton to run in Group 3 company, and despite being upwards of 12lb wrong on the figures, he ran third to Kessaar who franked that form at Newbury in the Mill Reef Stakes. He’s an each-way player.
Newmarket 3:00 Anthony Van Dyck
Progressed nicely through the ranks by winning his first four races for Ballydoyle, from his maiden to the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh. He was then second to top two-year-old Quorto in the Group 1 National Stakes. I know it’s only a small field but the favourite Too Darn Hot is going to need everything to fall in his favour again, as it did at Doncaster. He won’t be able to sit last in this field and give Anthony Van Dyck that amount of rope.
Ran a stormer in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood and wasn’t beaten far after returning off a lengthy absence. Has since run down the field at the Curragh. The slight concern is that he was hesitant at the starting stalls and gave away a bit of ground at the start. This is a fiendishly competitive handicap and he is going to need to get it right at the gates. If he does he may well be the surprise package with the excellent David Egan on board.
His warm-up run for this contest over course and distance was that farcical race when Stars over the Sea was allowed a 20 length advantage after three furlongs – and won. Tony Martin’s runner was held up at the back of the pack and made relentless progress to run well in the circumstances. There may well be one or two more progressive types in here but he’s already proven in this sort of company and was fifth in this contest in 2016. The hustle and bustle does not faze him. A top trainer who won this race before (Leg Spinner, 2007) and a top light-weight jockey in John Egan.
At 25/1, what’s not to love? Especially with Paddy paying the first 7 home!
Sprint over to PaddyPower.com now for all the latest odds on the geegees