Big on Japan UNDER-PERFORMER CAN FIRE AT YORK
JAPAN may have underperformed this season but the I think that he looks huge each-way value to successfully retain his Juddmonte International Stakes title at York on Wednesday.
Since that last-gasp victory 12 months ago, the son of the mighty Galileo ran a corker in the Arc before following that up with two flat runs from three outings in Group One events this season.
On the first occasion, he blatantly needed the outing in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes but then stepped up nicely when third in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park. However, he then took a step backwards in the King George at Royal Ascot when beaten out of sight by Enable, which was obviously not his true running.
I think that Japan has merely been crying out for a bigger field so he can hide away mid-pack and get into a rhythm.
But more importantly, just a bit of dig in the ground wouldn’t go amiss.
The outlook on both fronts looks good with 14 runners declared before the 48-hour stage and plenty of rain expected.
Japan is also a slow burner in his races and with Ghaiyyath sure to set a hot gallop from the front, I think he is way overpriced at 16-1 for an each-way punt. On a brilliant first day, I am really looking forward to CLOUDBRIDGE
running in the Acomb Stakes at 2.15. He shaped like a very smart juvenile when hacking up at Leicester on his career debut two weeks ago and he could take really high rank among the top youngsters this season. INDIANAPOLIS has run in some tough handicaps in the last two years and makes his two-mile debut at 3.45 and should improve for the extra yardage.
LOVE looks the banker of the week in Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks (3.15) but will be priced up accordingly and better value bet on day two could be SEA OF FAITH in the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes at 3.45.
This very lightly raced four-year-old looked very useful when dismantling a field of handicappers off a mark of 95 at Salisbury and I think this may be a mere stepping stone to Group company for the daughter of Sea The Stars.
SIR BUSKER gets a chance to gain compensation for a desperately unlucky run at Glorious Goodwood in the Heritage Handicap at 2.45, while I fancy that INHALER is the perfect type for the big sales race at 2.15.
I think A’ALI will put it up to the mighty Battaash in Friday’s Nunthorpe Stakes and looks solid each-way material at a double-figure price.
But if you are looking for a bit of value this week at the Knavesmire, take a second look at
FIRST IN LINE at around 20-1 in the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap next Sunday.
Second in last year’s Melrose Handicap, the four-year-old has improved again this season with a career-best effort when winning a handicap at Chelmsford off 114. And back over a course and distance he is proven at, there is more to come from this son of New Approach.