Capital gains to be had with Washington

AIDAN O’BRIEN’S decision to duck the 2000 Guineas with Washington DC can be vindicated by victory in the Merriebelle Stable Pavilion Stakes at Ascot.

The Royal Ascot-winning colt was shortlisted by Ballydoyle for the Newmarket Classic, but he instead rocks up for this Group Three over six furlongs.

Washington DC is an absolute ball of speed, so O’Brien is presumably a shade wary about him getting a mile in top-class company at this stage of his development.

The Pavilion Stakes will be an entirely different ball game, though, and is a race that should ideally suit.

Runner-up to none other than Air Force Blue in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August, having previously landed the Windsor Castle at Ascot, the Zoffany colt looked a picture of health on his Dundalk return.

Washington DC won a seven-furlong Listed event with supreme authority, which was no mean feat as runner-up Alphonsus and third-placed Most Beautiful are held in some esteem.

Gifted Master is a serious rival from Hugo Palmer’s stables, but it will be difficult giving the Ballydoyle resident 3lb, especially as that one has always been viewed upon a seven-furlong specialist - despite having won over six at Newmarket a fortnight ago.

The Group Three Longines Sagaro Stakes looks tough, but it may pay to side with venerable stayer Clever Cookie.

Peter Niven’s inmate must reverse form with Frosty Berry, against whom he missed out by a neck at Nottingham earlier this month, but the selection will now have fitness on his side.

That fact alone could also help Clever Cookie edge past Champions Day nemesis Flying Officer, who looks a thoroughly progressive horse but has not raced for 193 days.

His chances, too, are hardly diminished by Ryan Moore receiving the leg-up on Niven’s streetwise warrior.

Just Be Lucky can further advertise the training skills of Ivan Furtado by winning the Betfred Supports The NRC Handicap at Pontefract.

The Irish recruit is only just getting the hang of things since his switch to Furtado, but his recent third over eight and a half furlongs at Windsor was much more like it.

There are races to be won off a mark of 70 with this fouryear-old son of Intense Focus.