David O’Meara has earned a reputation for being able to improve horses sent to him from other stables and, in Saturday’s big betting race at Ascot, there will be a chance to see if he can turn the trick with a runner that was formerly with Sir Michael Stoute. Russian Realm (3.45) is the beast in question and he makes plenty of appeal at 16-1 in the Victoria Cup at Ascot with Richard Hughes aboard for the first time.
In fairness further progress could be expected in any case from the lightly raced Russian Realm at the age of five. This son of a 1,000 Guineas winner could be called frustrating on the strength of last season, when failing to build on an early Goodwood win, but things went wrong for him on several occasions, including trouble in running at Chester when the ground was finally right for him.
He looks handicapped to win if getting the breaks and it is also possible that a gelding operation may make him rather more of a professional. Perhaps this is just a first run before a tilt at the Royal Hunt Cup but the odds make him tempting for what is a very worthwhile prize by itself.
1.45 Haydock The expected soft ground will be no help to a couple of these but No Planning should be at ease on it and was a winner around here over fences in spring last year. He remains fairly treated and this looks winnable.
2.00 Ascot Three times a winner last year, Penhill has now joined Luca Cumani and appeals as a type the Newmarket man may do well with, having run with promise in the Melrose at York’s Ebor meeting. He should be stronger again at the age of four and, judging by 2014, the first half of the season may be the time to catch him. He is only 3lb higher than for his latest success. He was well held in a very hot race over this course and distance in September but there is no shame in that, as Trip To Paris, the Chester Cup winner, was among those behind him.
2.20 Lingfield Aidan O’Brien’s Wedding Vow is the form standout for this Oaks Trial. A daughter of Remember When, who was beaten a neck in Snow Fairy’s Oaks, this filly was beaten only by Legatissimo when last seen in April. The winner’s subsequent 1,000 Guineas success gives that effort an encouraging sheen.
2.35 Ascot Brian Meehan’s team have started the year strongly and his Agent Murphy is interesting. He was having only his fourth run when third of 18 in a very hot handicap here in September and may have more progress in him than these rivals.
2.55 Lingfield Christophermarlowe is the inevitable favourite on the strength of his Epsom success last month but that was a laboured effort against limited rivals. Perhaps Kilimanjaro has more to offer, having broken his maiden on his reappearance at Dundalk last month. His breeding suggests he can be forgiven a couple of uninspiring efforts as a juvenile, since he ought to be much better with time and distance.
3.10 Ascot Another recruit for O’Meara, Amazing Maria had an unproductive 2014 with Ed Dunlop, whose horses seemed out of sorts for parts of that season. She had shown promise when landing a Group Three as a juvenile and may have slipped to a fair mark if back on song.
3.25 Haydock It may be worth forgiving War Sound for his beaten effort at Aintree, when the ground would have been fast enough for him. He should get his toe in here and, although his future is probably over fences, this lightly raced type can make an impression. His jockey is Ciaran Gethings, one of the more useful amateurs around just now.
