Palace to restate claims at Chester
Cape Palace created quite a stir when winning on his debut last year, and makes a belated reappearance in the Horseradish At Home Novice Stakes at Chester tomorrow.
The son of Golden Horn bolted up by eight lengths at Newcastle late last August, on the same day stablemate Palace Pier also made a winning introduction.
It is far to say, though, that is where the similarities in their careers end – because Palace Pier has since gone on to remain unbeaten and has won two Group Ones, while Cape Palace has been seen just once since.
John Gosden sent Cape Palace to Newbury for the H ay n e s , H a n s o n & C l a rk Conditions race, won by a few good horses down the years – but three weeks on from his eye-catching debut, he was a beaten odds-on favourite.
He was pulling Frankie Dettori’s arms out early and while on the face of things finishing third to the now 99-rated Tritonic was not disgraceful, you got the impression Gosden expected him to win.
Clearly there has been a hold-up – otherwise he would have been out before now.
It is mildly surprisingly to see him back down at an extended seven furlongs, given his sire imparts plenty of stamina into his offspring, but this nonetheless looks an obvious opportunity to return to winning ways.
Calculation is the pick in the Horseradish Handicap for Sir Michael Stoute.
Owned by the Queen, the four-year-old is out of Her Majesty’s Gold Cup winner Estimate and by Dubawi, so is bred to be top class.
Following a fine run at Sandown in August, he disappointed last time out at Doncaster – but that was quite a decent race.
He is worth another chance.
Fabilis was an impressive winner last time out and can follow up in the Download The Star Sports App Nursery Handicap at Nottingham.
The Frankel colt is from a good Juddmonte family – and having finished only sixth on debut, he took a big step forward to win at Chepstow.
H e b eat a n o d d s - o n f avourite there and was value for a good bit more than the winning margin of just over a length.
The handicapper must have found it hard when trying to put a figure on Marcus Tregoning’s Modmin.
He came up with 80 – which may be lenient in the
Star Sports Owners Club £20K Guarantee Handicap.
Fourth on his sole start at two last year, he reappeared