A strong and pretty deep field and hard to rule anything really out.

 

At the top of the market we have Almighwar for John and the newly added Thady Gosden. A strange name maybe but sure to be a young man who is an absolute "chip off the old block" and it will be interesting to watch him develop and begin to take over the famous Gosden lineage over the next few years. The horse is a progrssive type who looks like this trip will suit but at 5/2 I think better proven value elsewhere and not hard to find a few who will want to exploit the lack of proven stamina to the full and try to get Gosdens horse well out of it's stamina comfort zone in the closing stages. Will need to be a nice one to win this and if he does will open up a lot of intriguing possibilities.

 

Imperium for Roger Charlton is another who has a very nice profile and who could become a big name at staying trips, tend to feel he may need this but one to keep a very close eye on. Cleonte rounds off the top 3 in the market and is race fit, sure to be a danger but as yet no real evidence to indicate its better on Turf than the AW so one to watch and monitor on the grass today.

 

At the opposite end of the market, Authors Dream is a prolific AW winner at the trip and one of a few who will likely come on for the run. Of more punting interest is KOEMAN and with Mick Channon being a regular provider of big priced winners and placed horses here, this one is mildly intriguing at the big Odds. A Course winner, fit from AW, likes Good to Firm on Turf, off a nice Turf handicap mark and indications on AW that 2 miles is now within stamina scope and range. At 20/1 plus worth a small side shrapnel bet if you want one.

 

I think Coeur De Lyon needs further and will come on for the run and Charlie D, who is fit from AW and who is on it's last winning turf mark will finish closer to the front than the back but not quite convinced enough about either today to have an investment.

 

I'm left with 3 very interesting Mark Johnson runners and their profiles really lend themselves to early season races on Good drying ground where they can run prominently and try to slip the field if they can get the fractions right and dominate from the front.

 

Of the 3 I will discard the one the market likes most which is LUCKY DEAL. Off top weight and this mark I don't fancy it quite as much as the other pair although Andrw Breslin takes off a hand 5lbs. I have a hunch they will want to bring this mark down a bit and be VERY competitive in Ascot and Goodwood handicaps later on and what better way to hide a few moderate runs away than when 2 others from the Yard can deflect attention away.

 

ROCHESTER HOUSE gets the assistance of Fanning and that metronome in his head. Has won off a similar mini break, proven stamina and pace angle and off a nice mark. He seems sure to give us a grat run for our money deep in to the race. The same applies to HOCHFIELD who is also fit, had a pleasing run at Musselburgh on similar ground, may find this long straight more suited to its style and also runs off a nice weight and handicap mark.

 

If the Charlton and  Gosden fancy types are good enough to take the Johnson street fighters and sluggers on and beat them, then they will be exciting prospects. This is one of those races I feel we'll be going back to all summer. Very exciting race in prospect.

 

TRACKERS - Rochester House + Hochfield (small side stake on Koeman if you wish)