Least said about day two the better so lets get straight on to day three, Gold Cup day.
Another tricky 2yo race starts the day in the shape of the Norfolk Stakes. Big field, unknown quantities and question marks about the weather and going all add to the mystery. Air Force Jet will be a popular choice after Southern Hills, who he beat last time out, won on day 2 but I just prefer SUNDAY SOVERIEGN who had Tuesday’s winner Arizona among others behind earlier in the season. Support for Air Force Jet could see the price of the selection lengthen a little too.
The Hampton Court Stakes is full of unexposed improving types and should be an interesting race to watch as many of these may go on to better things. I like the look of SANGARIOUS who has had just the one run so far this season after a decent 2yo campaign. He has the look of a classic Michael Stoute improving 3yo.
In the Ribblesdale Stakes the Dettori/Gosden team look to be the ones to be on with STAR CATCHER having the look of a filly that has been aimed specifically at this race. She has the potential to become one of the seasons top fillies.
The Gold Cup should be a simple task for STRADIVARIIUS especially as the ground should have dried out considerably by the off time. One or two could give him something to think about but he isn’t really opposable for me.
32 runners could go to post in the Britannia Handicap and this is a race in which I usually like to look for something that has been running decently in group races that has the class to give weight away. Nothing really fits that criteria this year though so I will take the other option of looking for an unexposed horse that is likely to make up into a group horse in time. Motafaawit and DAVYDENKO both fit the bill and preference is just for the latter given the weights.
I apply a similar theory to the King George V Handicap too but this time I believe CONSTANTINOPLE has the class to defy top weight especially if the rain stays away.
The good lady apprentice tipster came back down to earth with a bump today but is sticking with horses proven on ground on the softer side of good. All seem to have reasonable chances at decent odds … and remember she is still the only one of us to have picked a winner so far.
2.30 EXPRESSIONIST
3.05 SANGARIOUS
3.40 SHAMBOLIC
4.20 THOMAS HOBSON
5.00 BARRISTAN THE BOLD
5.35 GOOD BIRTHDAY
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