2.30 QUEEN ANNE STAKE:
132 RIP VAN WINKLE
122 PACO BOY
GOLDIKOVA
CALMING INFLUENCE
Summary - Rip Van Winkle stands out. If SEA THE STARS was the best horse in decades, then the horse that made him run to his best rating, and only beaten a length. That horse is RVW. He is a course winner - very important, as many do not take to the 'springy' feel since they relaid the track. He beat Paco Boy at Goodwood last year. Yes, PACO BOY may well have improved, but remember, Rip Van Winkle hardly entered a top race without something going wrong in his preparations last year - I have heard no such stories this time around?
A fully fit RVW is a confident selection, despite the presence of two strong contenders that I have no rating for.
Goldikova - on a line through RP ratings last year, I think she is about on a 129 rating
CALMING INFLUENCE - On a line through CAT JUNIOR, this has the beating of Paco Boy. Very tenuous because it involves Meydan races, and Paco could have won by more?
3.05 KINGS STAND STAKES:
125 BORDERLESCOTT
123 EQUIANO
122 KINGSGATE NATIVE
NICCONI
Summary - Very tight between the home trio. All three have good form on the surface. Will the Australian horse be good enough? I may get some late news on that, but at a quick shows it can win at the highest level, and being a hold up horse it will get the race run to suit.
Just because he should be coming to his normal peak I will take BORDELESCOTT to repel all comers. Markab is best of the rest.
3.50 ST JAMES PALACE STAKES:
122 CANFORD CLIFFS
118 MAKFI
115 DICK TURPIN
Summary - Everything else has to improve to beat this trio, or in the case of Beethoven, run up to his last year's best. Canford Cliffs heads the confirmed ratings, but just as he was entitled to improve on his next run, after finishing behind Makfi, so could Makfi. Then you have Dick Turpin, who also improved. I said in my Derby blog that I thought the French 2000gns looked rock solid, and so it proved with the winner trouncing the French Derby field? There is a reasonable argument to say that that 2000 race was about 15lbs superior(on time) to the 1000. If you say that Special Duty also improved from one race to the next, and ran near its 117 rating in the French 1000
... that would have the 2000gns winner on 132, and Dick Turpin on 131
On that basis I think Dick Turpin has an excellent chance of finishing in front Canford Cliffs once more, and with the sting being taken out of ground, he is better to race now rather than find the course has all dried out later in the week? Makfi is a danger. An uncomplicated horse who runs straight as an arrow. Canford Cliffs has the course experience, and the deadly turn of foot. Fascinating race.
4.25 COVENTRY STAKES
108 SAMUEL MORSE
89 HIGH STANDING
88+ STRONG SUIT
83 KLAMMER
Summary - If only the Coventry stakes ran to form it would be easy - It rarely does!
Samuel Morse is the clear selection, but no doubt something will show improved form to make sure it is not the walk-over it may appear.
5.00 ASCOT STAKES:
This year's running does not look that competitive as some, For that reason I would side with TYRELLS WOOD, who ran a good race at last years meeting.
5.35 WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES:
82 BOUNDLESS SPIRIT
82 CHILWORTH LAD
METROPOLITAN MAN
SPEIGHTOWNS KID
Summary - With such low ratings I expect this will not be one for the home contingent? There are a host of Irish challengers, for which I have no ratings for. Likewise the American horse, but they usually try out with their weakest entry first, so I suspect this April foal with only be placed. It may have had only one run, but you can guarantee it will be up and ready for it.
However, SPEIGHTOWNS KID intrigues me. Why bring an unraced horse over to start at this level ... if it wasn't pretty special? G. Gibbons on board. Hey, why not, it is a very open race to my mind.
Best of luck with all your selections, these are mine.
Gerry
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