The established excellence of Caravaggio, unbeaten in his five races, clashes with the rapid progress and unexplored potential of several interesting rivals. In just its third year, the Commonwealth Cup is established as one of the highlights of the week and rather overshadows the Coronation Stakes, formerly unchallenged as the Friday highlight.
The concern about Caravaggio is that we have seen him just once in 10 months, in a race he was fully entitled to win, and it would be nice to have more recent evidence of his continued brilliance, in view of how short his odds are.
Harry Angel (3.40) is a more attractive option and may continue Godolphin’s fine run, carrying their colours for the first time.
Trained by Clive Cox, who does so well with sprinters, Harry Angel pinged off the fast ground at Haydock when landing a Group Two last month. He is 4lb better off with Blue Point for his defeat to her before that and seems on a steep upward curve.
The US raider Bound For Nowhere is very hard to assess but there is a suspicion that 10-1 might be on the big side about the latest Wesley Ward speedster to roll up here.
2.30 Albany Stakes Alpha Centauri is a big, likable filly with an unbeaten record in Ireland and proven on a fast surface. A stablemate of hers was beaten less than a length in the Coventry on day one, so she seems sure to go well. But this might be another juvenile race in which the best idea is to side with a Wesley Ward runner, specifically Fairyland. Her US win was a furlong and a half short of this but she stayed on strongly and has some European turf blood in her pedigree. Her sire, Scat Daddy, has had three winners from four runners here this week.
3.05 King Edward VII Stakes Sir Michael Stoute pinged a couple of shots off the bar on Thursday but may finally find the back of the net with Crystal Ocean. The horse was having just the third start of his life in York’s Dante last month, in which he kept on strongly into third. The second, Benbatl, has franked that form here this week. Permian, meanwhile, the Dante winner, had a hard race in the Derby when fading after chasing a strong pace and this will be his sixth start of the year, which may take its toll.
4.20 Coronation Stakes Coolmore have already met disappointment when bringing one dual Guineas winner, Churchill, here. He was unplaced on Tuesday but they should fare better with Winter, successful in the 1000 Guineas in England and Ireland. She looked a cut above her rivals on both days and it takes quite a bit of imagination to see her getting beaten here. Dabyah missed the French Guineas last month because of an infection but would be the main challenger if entirely recovered and fit once more.
5.00 Queen’s Vase This test of stamina should suit Stradivarius, mugged at Chester last time after a muddling early pace. Since he was trying to give 13lb to the winner, it is hard to hold that against him and he can resume his progress here.
5.35 Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap Gelded over the winter, Sixties Groove made quite a promising reappearance at Epsom this month, staying on into seventh over too short a distance. He has already proved his stamina for this distance and still looks nicely weighted.
Friday’s tips
Ascot
2.30 Fairyland 3.05 Crystal Ocean (nb) 3.40 Harry Angel 4.20 Winter 5.00 Stradivarius (nap) 5.35 Sixties Groove
Market Rasen
1.40 Costa Percy 2.10 Kristal Hart 2.45 Overtoujay 3.20 Work In Progress 3.55 Creevytennant 4.35 Da Baba Elephant 5.10 Little Bavington
Redcar
1.50 Gone To Sea 2.20 Northwest Frontier 2.55 Island Flame 3.30 Town Charter 4.05 Hajjam 4.45 Cabal 5.20 Muatadel
Bath
5.40 Avocadeau 6.10 Sharjah 6.45 Polly Glide 7.15 Welsh Rose 7.50 Autumn Lodge 8.25 Newt 8.55 Zambezi Queen
Newmarket
5.50 Intimately 6.20 Winston C 6.55 Tribal Quest 7.30 Carducci 8.00 Panova 8.35 Yaarmen 9.05 Penny Dreadful
Ayr
6.30 Haymarket 7.05 Euro Nightmare 7.40 Bolder Bob 8.10 Scorching Heat 8.45 Lugano 9.15 Sea Of Green
