Lennox Stakes 2012

3.10 Goodwood

bet365 Lennox Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner £79,394

Advice: 3 pts win Chachamaidee (13/8 general)

Edinburgh Knight: Recent seconds over 7f (close second to Libranno and even better when beaten same distance by Field Of Dream at Ascot recently, having suffered troubled start) but this is a step up in class for him;

Firebeam: Bounced back from Longhchamp disappointment with second in 6f Newbury Sprint on heavy ground latest; This will suit better but but more needed and looked stretched over this trip when landing Listed contest;

Libranno: Won Criterion Stakes on July Course (loves it there; Taking record to 1141 on that track) when beating Edinburgh Knight latest and respected over his ideal trip with trainer and jockey in great form coming into this week; Should take beating.

Mac Love: Good return for evergreen 11 year old when third at Epsom in race that has worked out well since; This a drop down in trip and step up in class so hard to see him doing as well.

Majestic Myles: Been his typical consistent self this year, coming second once and third twice before then romping home with Chester Listed contest on soft ground latest; That confirms his wellbeing but behind Libranno and Firebeam this season and can’t see that changing.

Chachamaidee: One of most improved fillies last year, travelling strongly on her was to winning Oak Tree Stakes and then running creditably in Sun Chariot/Challenge Stakes; Return was that of exceptional horse and hugely creditable, if not unlucky, second in Windsor Forest Stakes where she lost several lengths at the start and expended yet more energy with last to first move on outside of the field; That makes her the one to beat

Foxtrot Romeo: : Looked like a useful horse when winning on debut at Hamilton and then running fourth in Conditions Stakes/Group 3 but made mother of all comebacks with massive second to Power in the Irish 2,000 Guineas; Only sixth in St James’s Palace but trip got to him late on and might be better down at this trip.

VERDICT: CHACHAMAIDEE can gain compensation for an unlucky defeat at Royal Ascot, where blowing the start meant she didn’t have enough left to pass Joviality in the last furlong over a stiff mile. A bad start here would spell trouble but 7f suits her down to the ground and she’s got the talent to beat the boys here if all goes well, having shown her speed over this trip when landing the Oak Tree on this card last year. Her biggest threats look to be Libranno – so good at this trip and from the leading trainer and rider at this course so often over the week – and Foxtrot Romeo, who wants a drop in trip.