Going favours Stradivarius
2.30 VINTAGE BRUT clocked a smart time when showing a great attitude to win the National Stakes at Sandown – always a solid race – and is fancied to confirm the form with Konchek, who stayed on well to finish third. Many will fancy Konchek to reverse the form as he was less favourably drawn that day but Vintage Brut is on a sharp upward curve and can progress again. The American filly Shang Shang Shang is sure to be useful, having won a Keeneland maiden with little fuss.
3.05 Charlie Appleby has a strong hand with Key Victory and NORDIC LIGHTS. Key Victory followed a smart Newmarket performance with a close eighth in the French Derby and can run well. Nordic Lights is preferred though. He was heavily backed for the Dante but found a change of tactics and the modest gallop against him. He had looked a much better horse when making all at Newmarket previously. Hunting Horn finished a length ahead of Key Victory at Chantilly and is progressive.
3.40 Wild Illusion is the form pick on her Guineas fourth and Investec Oaks second. However, she has had two hard races this term and perhaps MAGIC WAND, who probably went too fast too soon when fourth at Epsom, is worth a chance to confirm the impression she created at Chester.
4.20 The going appears the key factor. Order Of St George, Torcedor and Vazirabad prefer some cut but STRADIVARIUS goes really well on today’s fast ground and he is the improver in the race. He is also that rare stayer who possesses both stamina and a turn of foot. Desert Skyline has place claims.
5.00 A huge field of progressive three-year-olds affords little room for confidence. SAM GOLD looked ahead of the Handicapper when an easy winner at Doncaster last time and is a tentative choice. Others with claims are Crack On Crack On, if he does not get too far behind, as he tends to do, Curiosity and Stylehunter.
5.00 A double-figure draw has been essential in the past seven years and on four of those occasions the winner was drawn 14 or higher. BAGHDAD, one of Mark Johnston’s six runners in the race, begins from stall 16 and can maintain his recent improvement. Corgi has taken time to come to himself but shaped well when winning at Sandown last time. Marlborough