Royal Ascot 2012 - Coventry Stakes

4.25 Royal Ascot (Day 1, Race 4)

Coventry Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)  (2YO only)

Winner £48,204

Advice: 1 pt each/way Lines Of Battle (8/1 Bet365*) & Englishman (*9/1 Bet365)

Artigiano: Overcame large amount of greenness when staying on late into third at York in above average looking maiden (winner Funk Soul Brother reopposes), having gone very wide early before making good late ground; Had an easier task next time out but clearly improved when winning by 6 lengths at Leicester and should be considered here even if stepped up in class once again.

Baddlini: Looked decent at Windsor on debut but well exposed since when finishing only third in AW conditions contest and while he did well to finish third in the Lily Agnes Stakes from a wide draw, this is a whole different contest.

Cristofro Colombo: Preciously bred juvenile (son of 2007 winner Henrythenavigator while also being  Half-brother to 2011 Middle Park winner Crusade); Drifted before debut at Navan but always going best and won with a lot more in hand than original marigin suggests; Sure to come on from that a lot and the no.1 choice of Joesph O’Brien, so has to be majorly respected even with that form not working out as ideally as one would have hoped.

Dark Emerald: Slow to get going and never able to land a blow on debut at Goodwood and although better there last time when chasing home impressive winner (runs here), still easily beaten and this no place for him to be breaking his duck.

Dawn Approach: One of the most eagerly awaited juveniles of the season and has set down marker as leader of this division with three impressive wins so far, taking long time to get the better of previous maiden winner Mister Marc but doing so in convincing style in the end; Way he found extra at the end of that race suggests that stiff finish here should suit him and form stands up to scrutiny, so must be high on all shortlists.

Englishman: Keen early and well behind at the two pole on debut at Newbury, but flew once he got going to win by a length at the line going away (would have won easily had he been racing over 6 furlongs); Form of that race has since been underlined emphatically with 5 different winners coming out of that, including Listed winner Cay Verde; Has to be respected here with ground no problem if conditions haven’t dried out.

Funk Soul Brother: Lot to like about the way he travelled when landing York maiden (Artigano, who has since won since, third) by half a length (had plenty in hand) and while he’s been overlooked out of the Hills pair by Michael Hills, that understandable and worth considering with potential for improvement.

Heavy Metal: Typically tough and progressive Mark Johnston 2 year old, eighth on debut but concing winner of two other races before just failing in bid for Listed event & hatrick at Epsom; Needs far more than that today at this level

Indian Jade: Well backed for 5f maiden at Beverley on debut but then pulled off shock when downing impressive maiden winner New Pearl at Pontrefract last time, ending out well on top at the end; Based on that form only has to be taken seriously (New Pearl reopposes here and was so impressive in winning his maiden); Might need more here but not impossible.

Jubilee Brig: No shame in being beaten by subsequent listed winner Celing Kitty on debut and just a neck himself behind Bungleinthejungle (won twice after being well behind Englishman at Newbury); Landed the odds in mandatory style last time out but still needs a massive step forward.

King Dragon: In the style of most from his stable, promised to improve a lot for his debut, and that very much the case then third (made all his headway late on) behind Tipping Over; Far better can be expected of him and just the fact that he comes here is noteable, but huge step up in class here and might be one for the notebook.

Leitir Mor: Runner up all three starts to Ballydoyle horses, losing out by just a head to Lines Of Battle on second last start even though margin was more comfortable than that’ Couldn’t find much when challenged by Ballydoyle inmate last time (ground may have had something to do with that) and looks to be clear stable second string.

Lines Of Battle: Got the better of Leitir Mor (had previous run under his belt) on debut at the Curragh (sent off a 5/1 shot) in cosy style at the death, never being asked to do more than he had to do (also came from wide); Form worked out very well with runner up (reopposes) filling second position once again, while seventh (and stablemate) bolted up next time out; Stable second string on bookings but got lots more to come surely and has to be respected seriously.

Living Desert: Finished off his race really strongly behind ready winner in 6f Yarmouth minor event (had looked good on paper beforehand); Had previous winner inbehind so form not all bad but does seem a level below some of these.

Master Of War: Too raw on debut at Haydock (Dwelt, hung left and never going pace needed to catch the front four) but much improved win at same track next time out; Looks like a useful horse on that basis but this still a level up and stable looks to have two better candidates at least so left out.

Mrs Brown’s Boy: Made steady recovery after swerving right at start when winning at Goodwood on debut but put in place next time up in class when third at York and has a lot to find in this class.

New Pearl: Looked one of the prime contenders for this when bolting up in 5f Newmarket maiden on Guineas weekend but then turned over with very little answers under pressure at Pontefract by Indian Jade; No obvious excuses come out from that (was on much firmer ground than his Newmarket successes); Early days yet and connections persevere but Newamrket maiden form not working out so well.  

Olympic Glory: Well backed, travelled with consummate ease and never in any danger of being beaten when hacking up on debut at Goodwood (second reappears here); This a steep step up but must be respected as Hannon second string in any case.

Party Royal: Never quick enough at Chester when fourth in well contested maiden (form has worked out well for the level) and built on it when running out a clear cut winner at Ayr last time; Not reached peak but lots to find and others preferred.

Sir Prancealot: Well backed for debut at Bath and won going away with plenty in hand at the end, and that nothing compared to how impressive he was in National Stakes at Sandown, suffering disputed passage (on more than one occasion) but finding more than enough gears to win going away by four lengths; Looked the better the further he went so this 6 furlongs should suit down to the ground and sure to take a big hand.

The Taj: Looks to be one of the better Hannon/Maktoum horses based on way that he landed good punt in 6 furlong Doncaster soft-ground maiden on debut earlier this month; Should come on for that and has to be respected here for powerful yard.

Top Boy: Fourth to Irish Listed winner Cay Verde at Ascot (had been progressing before then) and once again improved when second in the National Stakes last time, although he never had aany chance of living with the winner; Ohters best chosen.

Whitfield: Must be well thought of if he was backed into 1/2 for his debut but disappointment that time out at Newcastle, ending up well beaten third; Fact that connections preserve with him at this level means he should win races in his own time but not today.

VERDICT: An exceptional looking renewal with a good betting shape as a bonus. So much can be said but the two that have impressed most from this perspective have been LINES OF BATTLE, who cruised into the race from a wide draw the Curragh and dispatched Letir Mor in a maiden that has worked out well since for a yard that has won this 6 times, and ENGLISHMAN, who took an age to get going at Newbury but won relatively easily at the end and should relish the step up in trip to 6 furlongs, in a race that has seen 5 different winners – including one Listed - come out of it. It was desperately hard not choosing Cristforo Colombo after his impressive win at Navan but that race could have worked out better, while Dawn Approach (a darling of this page given the roller-coaster ride New Approach gave me a few years back) comes here as a worthy contender, although he had a hard race just 15 days ago. Sir Prancelot’s Listed win was stunning on the eye and it was hard to find anything wrong with him (apart from price), while Funk Soul Brother, The Taj and Artigiano wouldn’t be surprise winners.