by Charlie McCann
Eight high-class animals will go to post for Wednesday's Juddmonte International at York including the classic winners Golden Horn and Gleneagles and it looks a magnificent renewal of a race that was given the accolade of best in the world last year. BetVictor bet 4/6 the unbeaten Golden Horn, 3/1 the dual Guineas winner Gleneagles and 4/1 the progressive Royal Ascot winner Time Test.
Kempton stage a good flat afternoon card this afternoon and Kazziana (2.45) is down in trip to a mile having finished third in a modest Nottingham maiden over 10f earlier in the month. This well-bred daughter of Shamardal is entitled to come on for the experience and, whilst she is no star, was backed as if she had plenty of ability prior to her first outing.
William Buick keeps the ride on the filly and connections will be keen to get a win next to her name for the breeding sheds. The same sentiment applies to Saraha although that filly was weak in the market on her seasonal reappearance when fourth of 7 at Thirsk in a first time hood. I expect the Charlie Appleby filly to improve past the William Haggas' charge and a bigger danger could from the debutante Mill Point who is certainly bred for the job. A market move would be worth noting.
Despite finishing in mid-division on debut I thought Kasseopia (3.15) ran a race full of promise at Doncaster on debut and he can leave that initial form behind with that experience behind him. The colt still holds an entry in the Gp 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster next month and can reward each way support in a fascinating and informative maiden.
The 7f nursery looks a hot contest given four of the six runners scored last time out either in maiden or handicap company. There is plenty of pace and I am going to give one final chance to Firesnake (3.45) back on an all-weather surface. Tom Dascombe's colt was backed into odds-on at Chepstow over 6f last time but was never competitive and the hope is that the return to polytrack and step back up to 7f will see him in a better light. This is last chance saloon but he is thought capable of better.
The hope is that Melodica (4.45) will improve for the step up to 12f for the first time having looked slightly unlucky not to break her maiden when third at Wolverhampton over an inadequate 9.5f earlier in the month. The filly is not guaranteed to appreciate the step up in trip on breeding, but she deserves to take her chance and William Buick takes the mount for the first time.
American Artist (7.10) has been well placed to land his last two starts and is only 6lbs higher than when beginning that sequence at Leicester tonight. James Doyle rode the horse to win at Windsor last time and keeps the mount. The colt has won half his six career starts yet can still race from a mark of 83; he looks progressive.
Monna Valley has changed hands for 105,000 and 130,000gns yet begins his handicap career from a lowly mark of 63 for Stuart Williams. If there was money for this lightly-raced gelding it is likely to be significant but without that information there is likely to be more to come from Perfect Bounty (8.10) who got going too late when dropped in trip at Bath last time and this return to 7f will help a filly who has not been out of the first three in her last five starts.
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