Investec Woodcote Stakes

2.10 Epsom
Investec Woodcote Stakes (Listed) (Class 1) (2YO only)
Winner £17,031

Picks; High Award(each/way), Premier Claret (win)

Approve: Really impressive winner last time, coming on leaps and bounds for his encouraging debut run; He was entitled to win as he did last time out though, and might need to take another step forward but he won’t be far away at all.

Casual Glimpse: Comes from top yard for 2 year olds who made a good debut at Goodwood first time out; Can be expected to improve majorly for that, form looks very strong for the grade and his experience of running downhill should stand him in good stead here; Must go close and looks likely type.

Dubawi Gold: Well backed and bolted up on debut, drawing away readily after travelling well for long way; Well worth try at this level and should go well although form of his win amounts to little more than the standard.

Foghorn Leghorn: Showed promise on his first two runs, but regressed judging on the distance that he was beaten by Dinkum Diamond compared to his maiden second and not easy to back on that basis.

High Award: Nice purchase with a high class pedigree who was sharp enough to be first winner of season at Curragh; Has been beaten twice since but each reversal came in a strong race for the time of year and is entitled to take a big hand in this, with Johnny Murtagh a positive booking.

Premier Clarets: A real trier who has run well on his first 2 runs, running into a good sort on debut and getting job done in good style last time; Will have to improve again to win this but chance of him doing so for in- form yard.

Saucy Buck: Consistent and tough sort who has run into several good types in her six runs so far; Got a deserved first success last time although she does look exposed on what she has shown so far and does look like the second string on jockey bookings.

Where’s Romeo: Beaten first time up but that can be put down towards conditions of that race, a weak on even for the grade under closer scrutiny; Won nicely last time out but will need to pull out more based on that form.

Singapore Lily: Showed plenty of guts to master Loves Theme at York and consdring that Knavesmire maidens are normally strong so she is far from discounted, although she is one of another who will pull out more.

VERDICT: Plenty of likely ones here so everything has a chance. It’s impossible to choose between HIGH AWARD & PREMIER CLARETS. High Award may have been beaten twice since his debut win but each reversal came in a strong race for the time of year and he is entitled to take a big hand in this, with Johnny Murtagh a positive booking. Just based on the fact that Richard Hannon could have sent many horses here, Premier Clarets gets a positive vote.