A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH
Dermot Weld again proved yesterday he has few peers in the training ranks. Free eagle defied a lengthy absence to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Forgotten rules will understandably have plenty of supporters in today’s Gold Cup.
the five-year-old has a similar profile to Free eagle in that he has been lightly raced and a shade difficult to train, but he is undeniably talented as he displayed last october in Group two company and on his reappearance at Navan.
the overnight watering should help a horse that has a marked preference for cut in the ground and that is the only negative to his chance today. Given he is favourite, the likelihood of fast conditions is a little off-putting, in spite of the undoubted genius of his handler, and mizzou and VENT DE FORCE ( Ascot, 4.20) could be the ones to benefit if he underperforms.
mizzou prevailed when the duo met in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot in April, but Hughie morrison’s charge was short of space at a crucial stage that day and looks capable of closing the two-length gap on his old adversary.
the selection has since made all to win at Sandown in Group three company and, although he would arguably be better suited by an easier terrain, he is improving at the right time and his trainer went close in the staying handicap earlier in the week. mizzou is tough to overlook as he has done nothing wrong and is a straightforward, likeable horse that looks sure to run a huge race at a track he clearly loves.
Kingfisher is also of interest given he landed the leopardstown event Ballydoyle have traditionally employed as a prep for this event, but Vent de Force narrowly gains the nod as there looks more to come from the imposing son of Hurricane run.
the Britannia Stakes looks a brutal race to solve with a host of three-year-olds masquerading as handicappers. WAR ENVOY( Ascot, nb, 5.0) certainly fits the criteria as he dips into handicap company for the first time after trying to mix it in the French Guineas and derby on his last two starts.
Connections have always felt he would be a better horse in a big field on fast ground and he has the opportunity to prove it with the tongue tie back on and he could be worth chancing at a big price with his yard’s horses running out of their skins this week.
the nap goes the way of KING BOLETE (Ascot, nap, 5.35) in the finale as he looked a horse to keep on side at Newbury and his handler has gone close in this race in years gone by.