Greenham Stakes 2014

2.55 Newbury

Aon Greenham Stakes (Group 3) (Str) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner £34,026

Advice: 1 pt win Night of Thunder (11/4 general)

Ante Post Advice: 1 pt each/way Night of Thunder, 2,000 Guineas (12/1 general) 

Astaire: Plied his trade exclusively at 6 furlongs last year but after disappointing in July Stakes, then went onto win Gimcrack and Middle Park stakes, tenacious at the finish on both occasions in beating well regarded types into runner up spot on both occasions; From stacks up largely well, but today’s new trip a potential problem.

Berkshire: Tremendous promise in all three starts, making amends for retched run on debut here to land the Chesham Stakes in fine style and then overcoming undulations of Newmarket and keenness combined to land Royal Lodge Stakes (runner up disappointed in RPT but bought good form standard to race).

Golden Town: All happened too fast for him on Godwood debut so fourth placed finish there was to his credit and lot to like about the way he put that to good use in 7f York maiden last August; Can go on from that form sure but others have at least as much to give.

Kingman: Looked a bit special when slamming rivals on Newmarket debut and despite only having the three runners to beat, equally as promising when landing the Solario Stakes at Sandown, with second favourite disappointing but runner up boosting form since; Ankle chip ended his season there but if he’s back in same shape (and yard has been firing in winners left, right and centre) then a very exciting future ahead of him.

 

Law Hawill: Looked worth every penny of his 230,000 gns price tag when running riot in Newcastle maiden (fast ground, 7f) last year; Form of that race (second won two Nurseries on AW since) doesn’t amount to much but won it in style of a serious horse and no telling that he's worth his chance today.

Master Carpenter: Looked half decent when winning his maiden but midfield behind Berkshire in Chesham and done little to suggest he’s of this class since.

Night of Thunder: Waited with until Ocotber last year but proved his worth with exciting win in maiden at Goodwood and then in landing listed event at Doncaster (both were on soft ground at 6f); Trip not expected to be an issue and latter event worked out particularly well, and sure to make more of a three year old for yard that’s won this 5 times in last 12 years.

No Leaf Clover: Just beaten in dash to the line at York, building greatly upon his Ayr effort the time before (short neck third off 77), but this suggests he’s flying too high.

Supplicant: Found his niche at 6f last year when finding 5f too short and can’t fault the game attitude showed to land Mill Reef here but then couldn’t make an impact behind Astaire in Middle Park; This trip should be within remit but possible that we’ve seen very best of him.

Windfast: Green on debut and a touch short of speed when third at Newmarket on debut but then put that right at Nottingham; That was when he was last seen though and this a massive ask of him even with that promise.

VERDICT: A serious renewal and with four of the top eight market leaders, probably the best Guineas trial we’ll see. The form of John Gosden is sure to be an assurance for those supporting the exciting Kingman today, who is a horse of immense promise, but the same too can be said about NIGHT OF THUNDER, who looked as if he had at least as much to offer in two wins last season and if adapting to trip and ground, can make a bold Guineas claim here. Victory in this contest would have to give him a serious form chance at Newmarket, so the 12's on offer for him may be worth chancing with victory today. Berkshire is one many tremendous prospects, but he’s likely to need further than this today and the opposite of this applies to Astaire, making Lat Hawill a big contender for many today following his Newcastle maiden romp.