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| Punter's Diary by Malcolm Heyhoe |
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| Updated: 27th June 2008 - GG.com |
July's Summer Joy
The traditional squaring-up of the older and younger generations has always singled out the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 5 as an important benchmark in the battle between the different age groups. Sadly this year’s renewal of the mile and a quarter prize doesn’t feature a single member of the younger generation in the first dozen or so horses quoted in the ante-post betting lists, and this race is a certainty to go the way of an older horse.
The bookmakers’ fancy Mount Nelson to secure the spoils and continue Aidan O’Brien’s growing domination of Group 1 contests. An eye-catching length and a half behind Haradasun when fifth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last time, O’Brien’s colt faces only mild opposition from the frustrating Phoenix Tower, an under-achieving Pipedreamer and a disappointing Pressing and Literato.
On the same day as the Coral Eclipse, Haydock hosts the Lancashire Oaks and this mile and a half contest can often fall to a late-maturing type while punters should also look closely at any horses Luca Cumani chooses to run in the Old Newton Cup on the same Haydock card. Twice a winner of this race in the past five seasons, Cumani has endured some high-profile failures of late and could do with a shot in the arm from a big-race winner. Mad Rush might be the type for this prize. He should really have won at Ascot last time if ridden with more enterprise.
Newmarket’s three-day July meeting ushers in a rash of Panama-hat wearing by the English male and on the opening day of July 9, French challenger Darjina will be bidding to go one better than she managed in Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne in the Falmouth Stakes while Spacious may bid to put her lackluster run in the Coronation Stakes behind her in the same event. Three-year-olds often have the edge here and the Fanshawe team boasts a good record.
On the opening day the more precocious two-year-olds will also test their growing talents in the Cherry Hinton Stakes. On the meeting’s second day, July 10, any runner from the Mark Johnston or Sir Michael Stoute stables should be taken note of in the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes. Backers should also look to oppose penalized runners.
On July 11, the final day of this fine meeting features the Group 1 July Cup as the meeting’s big highlight. Huge-priced winners in past seasons have emphasized just how difficult a race this is for backers, and with Kingsgate Native looking flattered by his Golden Jubilee success, this race is wide-open. Perhaps Marchand D’Or and Sakhee’s Secret can bounce back on firm ground after finishing fourth and first respectively in last season’s race.
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The Saturday of the July week, July 12, sees the John Smith’s Cup remain as ultra-competitive as ever but the increase in the older horse population has changed the face of these high-class handicaps forever and don’t be surprised if there are no unexposed and improving three-year-olds in the field. Over at Ascot on the same day Ramonti, the world’s best miler, may use the Summer Mile Stakes as a belated return to action for the boys in blue.
At the Curragh on July 13 there is a potentially mouth-watering clash between Lush Lashes and Epsom Oaks heroine Look Here in the Irish Oaks while over at Newbury on July 19 Corryborough could flex his considerable muscles by taking on the older sprinters in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes. Give in the ground will aid his cause.
July’s high-class action reaches a climax with the wonderful King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes on July 26, and backers need look no further than Duke Of Marmalade should he bid to emulate last season’s success in this same race courtesy of stable companion Dylan Thomas. O’Brien’s Royal Ascot winner shapes as if a step up to a mile and half is what he requires right now and he could be very hard to beat.
Glorious Goodwood follows hot on the heels of the King George with Henrythenavigator looking like a good thing in the Sussex Stakes on July 30. In his absence Raven’s Pass looks a sound alternative while Godolphin’s frustrating Dandy Man is likely to bid for a long-overdue success in a pattern race in the King George Stakes on July 31.
Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips
Archive June 2008
