13:50 Copper Knight @ 3/1
He’s not the biggest, but he has a massive heart and a decent-sized engine. Tim Easterby’s runner is on the inside trap in stall one so is primed to attack. He is going to be hard to beat, provided he gets away on the ‘b’ of the bang when the stalls fly open. The unsettled conditions means the track may turn a little softer, but this lad is flexible regarding ground conditions.
14:25 Circus Maximus @ 5/6
Another Ballydoyle inmate with a fantastic pedigree, he looked very good in only a few runs on the racecourse last year. He finished up with a one length fourth to Magna Grecia who came out this season and bolted up in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last weekend. Interestingly, he comes out second best to stable-mate Mohawk on official ratings yet that one is six times his price in early trading!
I still feel that Circus Maximus will come out on top in this 10f Listed race.
15:00 Pacino @ 16/1
Looked good when winning up at Beverly on his first try at this 7.5f trip on good to firm ground last month. He’s only been raised 5lbs for that success and with the excellent Sean Davis taking off the same amount, he’s a winner without a penalty in here. Given that there’s so much pace here, even from a middle draw in stall seven, the race should open up and he can pounce late in the short, home-straight.
15:35 Kew Gardens @ Evens
A wonderful horse who looks set fair for another cracking season. The English St Leger hero ran a blinder when only beaten four lengths into seventh by Enable in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October. It would be a slight concern if the ground came up soft, but he has so much class and ability that it should be able to see him through this early-season test.
The Ormonde Stakes should be the launchpad for another cracking year.
*Prices correct at time of publishing
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