14:30 – Albany Stakes
Daahyeh was well backed on her debut at Newmarket and she didn’t disappoint, winning in decisive fashion. The clock says that was a very impressive performance and the form got a serious boost on Wednesday, when the second from that Newmarket race, Raffle Prize, won the Queen Mary Stakes here. The draw in 14, should be final and I expect Daahyeh to go very well in a race full of unexposed types.
15:05 – King Edward VII Stakes
Japan will be all the rage after his close call in the Derby, but Aidan O’Brien has had a few types with similar profiles turned over in this one – probably due to the short recovery period between the races. As a result, I’m going to take him on with Pondus for James Fanshawe. He was fourth on debut at Nottingham, but was only six lengths behind the 2000 Guineas second King Of Change and made no mistake when winning his maiden on his second start, producing a strong sectional time there. On his third start at Sandown, he won very impressively in a good time and the form has been strongly franked with the third and sixth bolting up in maidens since. Pondus looks sure to improve again for the step up to a mile and a half. He can put it up to the favourite for sure.
15:40 – Commonwealth Cup
Ten Sovereigns will be a short-priced favourite here and ran a solid race in the 2000 Guineas when fifth, but to my eye he didn’t travel as well as I was expecting him to and as a result, I’m not convinced that the return to six furlongs is certain to see him return to winning ways. Firstly, he doesn’t have much in hand of Jash on their running in the Middle Park and Jash is nearly four times his price. For that reason, I reckon we can take him on. But while I was tempted by Jash, I am willing to forgive Advertise his poor run in the 2000 Guineas. The mile was unlikely to suit and Martyn Meade’s yard were going through a terrible period at that time also. Advertise has some really strong form as a two-year-old, he was second in the Coventry to Calyx, he won both the July Stakes and the Group One Phoenix Stakes – as well as a second in the Dewhurst behind Too Darn Hot. With the man of the moment, Frankie Dettori booked, I believe Advertise can bounce back to form here and he makes plenty of each way appeal.
16:20 – Coronation Stakes
Hermosa will be a short price to add to her English and Irish Guineas wins, but there was definitely a bias towards front runners at the Curragh on Guineas weekend and as a result, I believe she is short enough in the betting now. French 1000 Guineas winner, Castle Lady holds decent each-way claims in this. She won the French Guineas on heavy ground despite being bred to want a better surface and she remains unbeaten after three starts. The second from that French Guineas was terribly unfortunate not to win the French Oaks last weekend, so Castle Lady is capable of giving the French a fourth win in this race in the past nine years.
17:00 – Sandringham Stakes
Desirous looks a really solid each way play here for the in-form yard of Ralph Beckett. She failed to win on her first three starts, but in those races she was second to subsequent Group winners Dandhu and Qabala (who went off favourite when third in this year’s Guineas). Desirous made her handicap debut off a mark of 82 at Goodwood last month, she was an easy winner of that race and a six-pound rise would appear to underestimate her superiority that day. Off a revised mark of 88, she would look to potentially have ten pounds in hand here and her high draw should be the best place to be.
17:35 – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes
A really competitive race to end the day and Corgi is very interesting for Hughie Morrison and Jim Crowley. Am extremely consistent horse, he was narrowly beaten by the re-opposing Baghdad in the King George V stakes here last season and ran excellent races at both Goodwood and York after. He was gelded and had a wind op before his reappearance at York, where he ran a cracker in third behind the potentially Group Class First Eleven. It’s difficult to see Corgi not making the frame at least.
Tips summary
14:30: Daahyeh (4/1)
15:05: Pondus (9/2)
15:40: Advertise (7/1)
16:20: Castle Lady (7/1)
17:00: Desirous (6/1)
17:35: Corgi (11/2)
* All prices correct at time of posting.