EAGLE SET TO SWOOP
Top can topple stable buddy
GOLDEN HORN could be biting off more than he can chew in today’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Ascot.
Having won the Derby and CoralEclipse he is unquestionably an outstanding colt but is he a ‘great’?
The last two horses to pull off the Derby, Coral-Eclipse, King George treble were Nashwan and Mill Reef, so you have to be a true great to pull off the feat.
I’m not sure Golden Horn is in their class. The fact Derby third Storm The Stars was turned over at Longchamp recently is not a good sign, while fifth Epicuris was only fourth of six in a Group Two at Maisons-Laffitte on Sunday.
I would sooner back the favourite’s stable companion EAGLE TOP (3.50), who did not have an ideal preparation when fourth in last year’s race.
As a son of Pivotal out of a dam related to Oaks heroine and confirmed mudlark Sariska he should relish the chance to race on ground with some ease for the first time since making a successful debut at Newbury last year.
He needed his seasonal reappearance when fourth at Sandown in claiming 5lb will be a great help in this sevenfurlong affair. Azagal had a good win on her seasonal debut at Nottingham and I feel she is ready for a return to that kind of form this afternoon.
David O’Meara’s SUPREME OCCASION (1.45) gained the runnersup spot behind Roxy Star on her latest start at Ascot a fortnight ago.
That was over a mile and her return to one-and-aquarter miles will suit in a race where Daniel Tudhope gets the leg-up.
French raider PRINCE GIBRALTAR (2.55) can go one better than the second place achieved last time out at Chantilly by taking the York Stakes.
Interview: KEVIN FRANCIS late May over an inadequate mile and a quarter and Frankie Dettori did not ride a very good race on him when second at Royal Ascot behind the more enterprisingly ridden Snow Sky.
Richard Hughes takes over in the plate and I fancy the pair to turn the form around with the winner.
At around 6-1, he looks a corking each-way wager.
Before the main course comes a tasty appetizer in the shape of the Group Three Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes. I will be seriously surprised if it does not go to favourite BESHARAH (2.05).
She was touched off by a nose in a Group 2 at Newmarket 15 days ago over today’s trip, so a repetition of that will be good enough.
With Ryan Moore sadly on the sidelines for a while, it comes as no surprise to see Sir Michael Stoute turn to Irish Champion Pat Smullen to ride the progressive GRAND INQUISITOR (2.40) in the Weatherbys Private Banking Handicap (2.40). Sir Alex Ferguson’s three-year-old showed a bright turn of foot to land a Sandown handicap off a mark of 84 last month. He is up to 95 but still looks a step or two ahead of the assessor.
At York, CUSTOM CUT (2.55) can give 3lb and upwards to his seven rivals in the Group 2 Sky Bet Stakes.
David O’Meara’s evergreen sixyear-old chased home Arod at Epsom last time on Oaks day and the winner franked the form when scoring at Ascot next time.
He has winning form on the Knavesmire and this uncomplicated animal is going to be hard to pass inside the final furlong under Danny Tudhope. VICTORIA GRAY, Lifestyle Editor of the Sunday Express magazine, saddles up for a charity race at Glorious Goodwood I MAKE my race-riding Fahad Al Thanis’ Pearl debut in front of the Bloodstock in 2012. glamorous Ladies’ Day It features three purposecrowd at the Qatar built American-style barns, Goodwood Festival next state-of-the-art technology Thursday. including stabling with
A chance mention while vibrating floors and attending last year’s overhead solarium, plus an meeting led to an invitation all-important range of to compete in this year’s all-weather gallops. Magnolia Cup – a five-andOlly’s wife Hetta has a-half furlong ladies’ taken me under her wing charity race helping to and instructed me on how raise £1 million for Amref to become an adrenalinHealth Africa. charged Flat race jockey.
Ten aspiring amateur Having ridden as a child jockeys from the world of until my early twenties, I business and media will be considered myself a dressed in bespoke silks reasonably competent from top fashion designers rider but nothing could to battle it out over the have prepared me for my undulating Goodwood first experience on the racetrack. gallops on a racehorse —
I’ve been training at the an intoxicating mixture of Group 1 winning-trainer terror and exhilaration. Olly Stevens’ Robins Farm “Riding a racehorse is Racing yard in Chiddingvery different from riding fold. Set in the rolling your average horse,” Surrey Hills, this beautiful explains Hetta. “These 50-acre property was animals are incredibly purchased by Sheikh sensitive.”