We begin today’s preview at Leicester where Groor (2.25) is ridden by Ryan Moore for the first time in the opening nursery. Last seen down the field in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot he would have gone close in a decent Sandown maiden but for meeting interference on his penultimate start and must go close dropped in grade.
The selection must give weight to all six rivals including 9lbs to British Embassy who suggested that a step up to 7f would suit when runner up at Pontefract on his handicap debut last time. Eve Johnson Houghton has booked Jimmy Fortune on a colt who was backed into favouritism last time and off a 1lb higher mark he represents the chief threat.
Arod (3.25) looks to have been found the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways having run a blinder when finishing fourth in the Derby last time. He is a Group One winner in waiting for me if he learns to settle and this return to 10f should suit. The faster the ground the better and he should take this before stepping back up in class for the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York next month.
There is an excellent 7f Fillies’ Handicap for the classic generation and Perfect Persuasion (3.55) makes her turf debut having shaped with considerable promise at Kempton on her reappearance last month for William Haggas. The recommendation was backed as if defeat was out of the question on polytrack and she did give the impression that a step up to a mile would suit as she was doing all her best work late on. She is 2lb higher today but she did have a poor draw at Kempton and is unlikely to be dropped out the back of the field this afternoon as she was on her reappearance.
Marcus Tregoning has his stable in fine form and a chance is taken on Atalanta Bay (4.55) in the 12f handicap. The filly won on polytrack back in May and reverts to turf for the first time in 14 months having run exclusively on an all-weather surface in the intervening months. The trainer has had five winners from his last nine runners which is some feat and it might be worth following the yard blindly at present. Three of the fillies’ five rivals were beaten favourites last time including Wall Street Boss who looks the main danger with Freddie Tylicki in the plate.
At Doncaster Polar Vortex (6.30) is another dropped in grade having taken in the Queen Mary last time at the Royal meeting. A mark of 75 looks reasonable enough given the filly she beat at Nottingham previously (Parsley) is now rated 93 after a series of good efforts. The once-raced New Providence has Ryan Moore doing the steering but it didn’t look much of a race she won at Lingfield on debut and she will have to improve to trouble the selection off level weights.
Lashkaal (7.00) is taken to land the 7f juvenile fillies’ maiden in what looks like a most informative contest with many of the top yards represented. Too green to do herself justice on debut she was well backed on that occasion which suggests she has been shaping with promise on the Newmarket gallops. She is entitled to come on for the experience and has most to fear from Roger Varian’s Ya Latif another who suggested she would improve considerably for her debut when fourth at Newbury.
There is a very competitive 10f handicap and Endless Credit (8.40) drops back in trip having looked a non-stayer in the Carlisle Plate over just shy of 12f last time for Luca Cumani. The 4-year-old has only had five career starts and this looks an ideal opportunity albeit in a hot race.
At Epsom Nave (6.10) looks very well treated and if she were ridden by Serena Brotherton she would be something to bet on but the hope is that Megan Nicholls, daughter of Champion jumps trainer Paul, can time her challenge correctly. The jockey is improving fast and she takes off a valuable 5lbs on the selection who invariably runs well at Epsom.
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