Great Voltigeur Stakes 2010 - Ebor Festival 2010 (Day 1)

2.50 York
sportingbet.com Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3YO only)
Winner £82,964

Pick: Rewilding (win)

Midas Touch; Progressive in three runs at two and ended season with a decent fourth in Criterium International; Made a very good return when landing Derrinstown Derby Trial so was disappointing when lacklustre fifth in Derby; Ran a brave race when close second in Irish Derby last time and should go well here with form looking solid (Cape Blanco & Jan Vermeer have run well since); 3lbs penalty does make thing tricky though.

Montrerosso: Comes here of the back of a truly amazing progression, having begun the season with a pair of all-weather victories in January and February, before taking better handicaps and then romping away with King Edward VII Stakes; Fair fourth in Irish Derby (used up energy on home turn) but disappointing last time and this not really any easier.

Dancing David: Very promising maiden win at Newbury considering that he was green from Pillar to post, making all to win impressively, and built on that again with a very good effort to finish fourth in Racing Post Trophy; Hasn’t quite built on that this year, being well beaten by Elusive Pimpernel and then getting nailed late on by Azmeel In Dee Stakes; Not sure what step up to 12f will do for him and h does have a lot to make up on main protagonists.

Harris Tweed: Progressive handicapper who was receiving 18lb from key form link Corsicawhen meeting for the first time, winning by over five lengths; Without any assistance from the handicapper he still ran Corsica surprisingly close and was only overhauled late on in the Bahrain Trophy, promoting him to favouritism for the Ebor; In here because he misses the cut and while he is entitled to run, he does have a tough task on here.

Joshua Tree: Scrambled home over 7f in the mud at Gowran on debut; Better effort when second in 8f nursery at Listowel before showing immense promise when taking Royal Lodge Stakes; Has suffered some holdbacks in spring and fascinating runner here but absence will surel mean he needs run too much.

Momkinzain: On and off bridle when third at 18/1 behind useful Tactian on debut at Newbury, sticking on before being outpaced and losing second on line; That maiden evidently a useful one and worth nothing that he was ahead of Total Command, who has since run a cracker in the Queen’s Vase.

Rewilding: Graduated from Andre Fabre's stable with flying colours when taking a Cocked Hat Stakes in great style visually and supplemented for Derby off the back of that; Ran a good race in Derby, proving very unsuited and losing lot of ground on Tattenham Corner before making good late progress; Been given long break to recover from that since and holds big chance for red – hot Al Zarooni stable.
Simeon: Consistent a tough type who never fails to run his race but has been beaten by Azmeel, Rewilding, Asfare and Corsica on his last four starts, suggesting that he won’t be cutting too much ice in this contest.

Ted Spread: Improved on all previous form and just pulled out more and more to win Chester Vase in gutsy fashion, beating off Icon Dream by ½ a length; Ran no sort of race in Derby but can be forgiven that and no forlorn hope here in improving on Chester Vase win.

Total Command: Steadily improving sort who was actually behind Momkinzain on seasonal debut before braking his maiden at Goodwood; stepped up in trip to 2m for the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, travelling strongly and showing a good turn of foot to go clear before faltering for stamina in the final furlong; Drop in trip should help him and Oliver Peslier is great sub booking in place of Ryan Moore.

VERDICT: The presence of Momkinzain (infront of Total Command on only run), Ted Spread (Forgotten Chester Vase winner who didn’t handle the track in the Derby), Total Command (was well on top at the 2f pole in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot) and especially Royal Lodge winner Joshua Tree make this a fascinating much watch race and an important St Ledger trial. A pull of 3lbs for a advantage of 4 & ½ lengths from the Derby with Midas Touch makes REWILDING a pretty standard pick here, and with an absence hopefully having refreshed him enough to get over the race he had that day. That said, good runs can be expected from the top 2.