Royal Ascot 2012 - Chesham Stakes

2.30 Royal Ascot (Day 5, Race 1)

Chesham Stakes (Listed) (Class 1)  (2YO only)

Winner £31,190

Advice: 3 pts win Move To Strike (13/8 general)

Chilworth Icon: Steady improvement culminated with wining in Listed company at Epsom the last time out, that coming after bumping into faster two year old the time before in Lyric Ace; Should be hard to beat and 7f not a problem but does have to give away 3lbs to rivals here.

Hillbilly Boy: Got head in front (deservedly) at fifth time of asking when strong at the finish in last furlong of Ripon maiden latest (form been boosted since, and that by a reopposing rival in Tha’ir); Will get this trip but question mark about him confirming the form.

Jalaa: One of a decent bunch of Hannon trained Al Maktoum juveniles who announced himself when winning Leicester maiden in good style, drawing right way through final furlong; 7 furlongs will suit for a yard that has won this in two of the last three years and also had a second in that time, and has to be respected.

Move To Strike: By Lawnman (Prix Du Jockey Club winners); off to a satisfactory start when finishing third to Forester in a Leopardstown maiden in April, and improved from that to slam his rivals in 6 furlong maiden at the Curragh, winning by 9 lengths with relative ease; Easily beaten runner being second is a good enough pointer to his chances here and ought to prove very hard to beat with stiff finish and ground (whether it dries out or not) expected to be a problem here.

Paskaka Boy: Showed an excellent attitude when a 50-1 Salisbury winner on debut(soft ground); Should come on from that by neck second Paska Boy was well beaten behind Jalaa and he looks to have the stronger of the two based on form chances.

St Paul De Vence: Bred to be winning races and this right trip to start off on debut (brother to 1m winner Brtothed; In family to smart 1m2f perfomer One So Wonderful); This is a tough racecourse debut.

Tha’Ir: Made a promising debut hen fourth in soft ground Ripon maiden (behind Hillbilly Boy) but clearly much improved for the experience when beating a subsequent winner and stablemate there next time out with plenty in hand (4 lengths); Has to be respected here and given major chance with yard finding better form as week has gone on.

The Sixites: Tardy start at Windsor cost him chance and presumably won’t be repeated once again today, but this looks far too tough for him and stable has better chances anyway; Will win races in time.

Zanetto: Lost his race at the start (25/1; Slowly into stride and ran green early, towards rear afterwards) when seventh in strong race at Goodwood; Sure to win a maiden and expected that he’d improve on his first effort might have just

Cruck Realata: Made it third time lucky when landing maiden auction at Salisbury from Momalorka (had been beaten by Listed winner on debut) and ground not likely to be a problem; Others make more appeal despite this one being an honest type.

Downright Dizzie: Stamina in her breeding (half-sister to miler, out of Notnowcato) and yard has made useful horse in Calico Cat already; Despite that, no appeal on debut.

Effie B: On a strict line through winners, has been beaten in decent contests the last twice, with Ceiling Kitty winning Queen Mary and Sir Prancealot coming fourth in Coventry; This step up in trip the right move but no idea if she’s been hugely flattered or not.

Fadetoinifinity: Didn’t need to improve to land 14 runner seller at York last time on soft; Others preferred.

Frege: US bred with several winners in pedigree and found 6 furlongs an inadequate test at Lingfield on debut; Will come on a lot for that (as all the yard’s runners do) and had previously travelled well into the race, but this a steep step up in class.

Lovely Pass: Backed into odds on on AW debut and didn’t disappoint, winning easily despite hanging badly to the left; Form apart from subsequent winner not great and will need to be more tractable now, but no doubting that she’s got ability.

VERDICT: MOVE TO STRIKE was hugely impressive when landing his maiden at the Curragh at the second time of asking, and with seven furlongs sure to suit and the ground (drying or not) no problem, he makes most appeal out of a useful looking field. Jalaa looks an obvious threat, although the Godolphin pair of Lovely Pass and Tha’Ir merit obvious respect. Mick Channon deserves immense credit for bringing four sons of Sixites Icon here – with Chilworth Icon looking the best of them – although none look to have the potential of the front four.