Jockey Club Stakes 2014

3.10 Newmarket

Qatar Bloodstock Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £56,710

Advice: 2.5 pts win Trading Leather (10/11 general)

Times Up: One of the best of the staying game around, having won Doncaster Cup for second time running last year, but this shortest trip for three years and hard to see him having the speed for current test.

Brass Ring: Left a fine impression when winning at Haydock and then landing handicap here, making short work of mark of 82; Form of reappearance win boosted by runner up and while this is a big leap in class, only the four starts, and a big showing no surprise at all.

Gospel Choir: Disappointment twice in valuable 12 furlong summer handicaps after winning at Haydock but better at Goodwood before again disappointing in Cumberland Lodge Sakes; Reappearance run was a promising one over trip too short but worry that he seems to struggle putting two good efforts together.

Havana Beat: Most of his form from last year isn’t good enough and likely that he’ll be best in advance of this trip today; Never competitive in St Leger.

Penglai Pavilion: May well have won Grand Prix De Deauville but for stumbling at the start and fifth in the Arc gives him great credit but disappointment on return for new yard (ex-Andre Fabre) which puts cloud over his chances and may want softer ground.

Pether’s Moon: Rapidly progressive last year at this distance; Made short work of field in Goodwood handicap despite hard pulling early and impressive winner on final start; More on plate here but not an insurmountable gap and interesting here.

Renew: Second to Brass Ring in C&D handicap here last year and improved since, now rated 100 following his listed win last year; Return in Dubai was fair enough although looks to be another one who would want a longer trip.

Trading Leather: Amongst the best of age group last year, third in Irish Guineas, winner of Irish Derby and then second in King George and Juddmonte before third in Irish Champion Stakes; That form a cut above anything else here and this trip his optimum, so should make a bold bid to start year with a win.

VERDICT: This is an ideal opportunity for TRADING LEATHER to start his Godolphin career with a win, with his form from last year a cut above what anything else can offer apart from Penglai Pavillion’s Arc fifth, although his good ground form is less than encouraging, along with a poor reappearance, and the fast improving Brass Ring is of more interest with Gospel Choir having his issues stringing two big efforts together.