SWINEY TO STRIKE FOR BOLGER AT YORK
JIM BOLGER has carried all before him with his three-year-old colts this season and he can land another big pot with MAC SWINEY in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday.
An all-the-way winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas in May, the son of New Approach has since finished a one-paced fourth in the Derby followed by a distant sixth in the Curragh renewal.
Both those runs confirmed he simply doesn’t get home over 1m 4f and if he can dictate the pace from the off I can see him hitting the frame at the very least and pushing the Eclipse first and second, St Mark’s Basilica and Mishriff, to the limit.
Just over half an hour earlier, Godolphin can tighten their grip on the final Classic of the season, the St Leger, when the rapidly improving KEMARI lines up for the Great Voltigeur Stakes.
Unraced at two, the son of Dubawi has jumped up the three-year-old staying ladder in the space of three weeks with an easy Yarmouth maiden success before jumping into Group Three company and landing the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.
A long-striding powerhouse, expect the selection to be in the mix from the start and outstay the likes of the disappointing High Definition and Youth Spirit from the Andrew Balding yard.
It will be great to have the Yorkshire crowds back at the Knavesmire and I am hoping that they will be cheering from the rafters on Thursday when I expect a huge run from BEDOUIN’S STORY in the Clipper Logistics Heritage Handicap.
The Godolphin charge ran an absolute belter in the Golden Mile at Goodwood when just over five lengths fifth behind easy winner Maydanny following a wide passage throughout. A kinder draw and a spot of rain would certainly aid his cause and it is worth mentioning that he is one from one at the track which is a huge plus. IMPERIAL FIGHTER has been entered in all the big twoyear-old races and can supplement his recent Goodwood maiden success last month by landing the Acomb Stakes, while the speed crown has DRAGON SYMBOL written all over it in the Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday.
However, if you are looking to balance the books by the end of the meeting let me suggest an each-way play at 33-1 on EAGLES BY DAY in the Ebor Handicap on Saturday.
A course and distance winner last season, David O’Meara’s charge looks as though he has been aimed at this race all year and his run in the Glorious
Stakes last month should have blown away the cobwebs forthis valuable handicap.
A hold-up horse, he should be well suited to a fast run race over the mile and three quarters and granted good ground and some luck in running, I expect this still lightly raced five-year-old to land the gold medal.