Our ante-post advice earlier in the week is looking good with all three original selections cut in price. Sole Power was advised at 7-2 for the Temple Stakes and is now down to 2-1 following the withdrawal of Pearl Secret. Reckless Abandon looks to be his chief rival but I still have respect for the Robert Cowell-trained pair of Spirit Quartz and Kingsgate Native.
Spirit Quartz was done no favours by the draw in the Palace House Stakes and again finds himself on the opposite side of the course to the favourite. He has three lengths to find and may struggle if Tangerine Trees gives Sole Power a nice tow into the race. Kingsgate Native remains slightly enigmatic but Cowell reports both sprinters to be in fine shape. So far the worst of the showers have avoided Haydock so it is still looking good for the fast ground that the favourite loves.
Breton Rock has been taken out of the Silver Bowl and Here Comes When is 5-1 from 7-1 to follow up his Chester win. That still leaves Richard Hannon’s Baltic Knight and I am going to have a saver on this promising colt. He beat Here Comes When at Newbury and is better off at the weights and the form received another boost when the third horse won a nice handicap at Newmarket on Saturday. His run behind Dundonell was a good one and he will be a big danger if this race does not come too quickly.
The Irish 2000 Guineas has been turned on its head by a flood of money for Chester Dee Stakes winner Magician. Many observers felt that he had earned a crack at the Epsom Derby with that win but he has apparently been showing so much speed at home that he is regarded as the stable number one here. That is quite an honour with a Breeders’ Cup winner and two horses that were beaten only three or four lengths in the French Guineas to consider.
If you are on Magician at 14-1 I wish you luck but he no longer represents value at 5-2. The one that interests me is Flying The Flag at 33-1 with Stan James. The French Guineas was something of a farce with the horses finishing in a heap but Flying The Flag was arguably the unluckiest of the lot. He trailed the entire field turning in but made up an enormous amount of ground. My biggest worry is that he will be used as a pacemaker as he was last season but at 33-1 I’m prepared to take a punt.
Just The Judge is on course for the 1000 Guineas and I’m optimistic that she can give Charlie Hills his first classic success. Moth looks almost certain to be diverted to the Oaks next week and I think Snow Queen could emerge as the biggest danger. She ran well at Newmarket without ever threatening the leaders and should not be far behind Just The Judge.
Baltic Knight 6-1 Coral
Flying The Flag 33-1 Stan James
