MOTHER EARTH
She may have bumped into a decent one at Navan last week, but I imagine Aidan O’brien will have been delighted by the manner in which this filly stayed on into second from off the pace.
This slightly longer trip is obviously going to help a bit, and I think Ascot will suit her, too. She should go nicely.
LIPIZZANER
He shaped very well when a narrow second to a fancied newcomer over 5f on soft ground at Naas back in March, and Aidan got another run into him at the same track over an extra furlong last week.
Unfortunately, the race didn’t pan out ideally for him as he had to do a lot of racing from his outside stall to get to the front, and it told late on. But the winner could be very smart, too.
I think my mount has a big run in him.
ANTHONY VAN DYCK
I was delighted with his comeback second to Ghaiyyath in the Coronation Cup at Newmarket – really pleased. He was obviously meeting a top-class horse that day, and he is the one to beat here if stepping forward from that run. Even a reproduction of the form may suffice.
LOPE Y FERNANDEZ
You can make a case for a few in this Commonwealth Cup, and you’d respect Kimari, and the likes of Golden Horde, who has very solid Group 1 juvenile to his name. But my colt has a lot going for him.
He has that course form when chasing home Pinatubo in the Chesham last year, and I thought he shaped as though stepping back down to 6f would really suit him after his third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He has to back that run up after a short turnaround, and soft ground would be an unknown, but I like his chances if he does. SANTIAGO
He looked a good staying prospect when winning over 1m at Listowel on soft ground, his final start.
His sire is Authorized, so hopefully he will see this much longer trip out okay, and this has been the plan for him for a while.
2.25
3.35
4.10