Clash of the Titans

The news that Derby winner WORKFORCE is entered for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot is tremendous.
Let’s hope that the horse makes the race and that O’Brien sends over Fame And Glory for a true “clash of the titans” and a battle between the generations.
It’s a long time since the Derby winner met the older horses in the Ascot race and this could well be a return to the glory years.

Review of yesterday’s blog (Tuesday 8th June)
Not a great day for the blog.
Henry Cecil’s ON HER WAY was reluctant to go to the post and looks likely to have run her last race. Henry Candy’s HOOLIGAN SEAN ran his heart out, up with the pace throughout, but faltered near the line and just lost 3rd place by just a nose. JACK DAWKINS never got in the race and trailed in last.
The only “light” in the blog was advising to give LUTINE BELL a miss, as he came home a poor 8th at the short odds of 11/8.

Today’s Selections
There are 4 flat meetings at Beverley, Hamilton, Yarmouth and Haydock.
There is nothing that excites me running at Beverley.
At Haydock, trainer TD Barron sends just DOLPHIN ROCK for the 3:50. At first glance this looks a tough assignment but there have been 3 withdrawn in this race and DOLPHIN ROCK has improved a lot since moving to Barron and that improvement may not yet have peaked. Odds of 4/1 are available, and it may be best to take that.
There’s a meeting at Hamilton this evening and the major race there is the Lanark Silver Bell handicap. Sir Michael Stoute sends one up for this. He’s a rare visitor having sent just 4 here in the past 5 seasons and finding success with 2 of those. But his runner in this – JEDI – will need to improve on his latest run, and I fear the horse will want further than this 12f, as his half-brothers Hi Calypso and Warringah did, and stock of his sire Pivotal usually want a bit of “give” in the going. I would not take a short price about this one, and current odds of 9/4 look too short to me.
Give Yarmouth a wide berth.

So, just the one selection; DOLPHIN ROCK in the 3:50 at Haydock, take 4/1.

Looking ahead
Next week is Royal Ascot and I will be giving the racing the full form study treatment between now and next Tuesday.

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