DOUBLE HANDFUL

THERE’S only one Group 1 race on our shores this weekend, the Sun Chariot Stakes — a contest for fillies and mares over Newmarket’s Rowley mile. The first horse I’m going to rule out is market leader Wind Chimes.

I’m not a fan of the French filly and I’m even less of a fan of those useless wind chimes sold in garden centres, because who really needs to be alerted to a slight breeze in the back garden?

I don’t see how Wind Chimes can be a shorter price than

LAURENS when you compare what the two have achieved in their careers to date.

Laurens bagged the Fillies’ Mile here last year, was a close second in the 1,000 Guineas and has top-level victories to her name.

Wind Chimes has won only once in her last five runs, although her last outing — when a head second to Recoletos in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin — has to be considered a decent bit of form. But Andre Fabre’s three-year-old will have to tackle quick ground for the first time, as well as Laurens, who looked impressive at Leopardstown last time out. Laurens repelled the late challenge of Alpha Centauri, digging deep after being briefly joined a furlong out, and finding another gear to go away from her rival. Sadly Alpha Centauri damaged a fetlock and had to be retired after the race, but that should take nothing away from Laurens’ gutsy display.

Aidan O’brien’s Clemmie was making late eyecatching headway to finish third but was never going to trouble the winner. O’brien’s other runner Happily was two-and-a-quarter lengths further back in fifth. Laurens is the solid, consistent performer in this field and her credentials more back that up.

She’s only finished out for the first two in one of her nine races, winning six.

I can’t really envisage a scenario where she isn’t contesting at the finish in the Sun Chariot — and prevailing at the post.