John Porter Stakes 2012

2.00 Newbury

Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Registered As The John Porter Stakes) (Group 3) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £31,190

Advice: 1 pt win Artic Cosmos (7/4 general)

Modun: Highly progressive for Sir Michael Stoute and unlucky not to pick up a big prize before his September Stakes win, coming too late on more than one occasion (beat Harris Tweed); Disappointment in Melbourne Cup best forgotten in terms of this race and fair comeback in Group 3 Dubai Gold Cup although has to give the weight away and one of three unplaced runs on soft ground.

Allied Powers: Loves cut in the ground (twice a winner on heavy and last win came on soft) but lifeless after good third to Silver Pond in Grand Prix De Chantilly, coming well beaten on all 3 starts since; Needs much more here and may be best caught second time out.

Artic Cosmos: Made rapid improvement over staying trips to land St Ledger of 2010 in clear cut style, but held back for more than a year with cannon bone fracture; Made excellent return when second behind Quest For Peace in Ascot Group 3 and even better when fourth in Canadian International; Back in great style when taking advantage of good opportunity in AW event at Kempton and while this tougher (won’t get easy lead) has form as good as any and should come on for his return, so major chance.

Bridge Of Gold: Third in the Ebor just three starts ago and pushed useful yardstick in Indian Days all the way when last seen, although that upwards of a year ago; Likely to need the run and others preferred.

Eye Of The Tiger: Really interesting recruit based on his former form, when winning both starts after Andre Fabre, most recently beating his better fancied stablemate Getaway in the Group 2 Gerling-Preis before not staying 2 miles in the Grosser Ehrmann-Steher-Cup; Been off for 673 days though so has it all to do on fitness count.

Harris Tweed: Progressive front runner thoughought 2010, winning big Musselbrugh handicap with plenty to spare before taking two listed races; Hard at it from long way out in Ormonde at Chester May meeting and Hardwicke second even better; Didn’t quite run upto form in his two races when fourth in Yorkshire Cup and easily beaten by Modun (under care of Sir Michael Stoute) but deserving of respect.

VERDICT: The soft ground should be right up the street of Harris Tweed and he merits respect on his first run of the season, but the advantage that ARTIC COSMOS could have through his easy listed win isn’t to be underestimated and if handling the soft ground (fourth on yielding in the Candian Internatinal) then he looks to have an excellent form chance based on his two efforts last year. Modun deserves respect despite giving 3lbs to the field, while Bridge For Gold might need the run.