You know you’re properly into the flat when the middles
distance three year old begin to get properly sorted out and the Dante festival
is no different. As well as being one of the most enjoyable meets of the year
you usually get a Derby favourite or winner, with an Oaks horse occasionally
thrown in.
Getting straight to the point in the Infinity Tyre Stakes (1.30),
there are two horses that catch the eye. Henry Cecil’s Discentric, and Sir
Michael Stoute’s Treble Jig. Sir Michael Stoute has won two of the last eight
renewals of this handicap from just four runners, so the fact he’s the main representative
is notable.
This is a selection based very much on trust; I’m forgiving
him his last run based on the fact he won’t have been ripe on the day, and the
fact that he was held up over a trip of a mile while a step up in trip (and
more prominent tactics).
My reason for not choosing Discentric is that he’s stepping
up into an unknown trip for him, will improve for the run, and also was keen
last time out. It’s fair to say he can do better this year but too many unknowns
for today. Taqleed is the type to prove group class this season, but he’ll
improve for the run massively. Pekan Star is the type to really spring a surprise
of bottom weight and it’s worth remembering that his stable won the Spring Mile
with Eton Forver, a very similar type. That said, I think that fitness counts
for much more at this stage of the season (unraced for 209 days). Pleasant Day as
having just his second start for Richard Fahey when a close second to the Prince
Of Johanne at Ripon on Friday so should be considered closely.
Shropshire was seen as a Group horse after making an
impressive winning debut last year and it’s easy to forget that he was sent off
at just 4/1 for the Gimcrack last season. He can win the Blue Sq Iphone App
Stakes (2.00). Barry Hills has his horses in great form and this colt should
come on plenty for this run behind Frankel in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury,
where he was far from disgraced back in third.
Advice
1 pt each/way Treble Jig, 1.30 York (14/1 Paddy Power)
1 pt win Shropshire, 2.00 York (9/4 William Hill)
No comments:
Post a Comment