Ryan Moore, so sanguine about his prospects during a pre-Royal Ascot press conference last week that he appeared on the verge of sleep, can get his week off to a big start by landing the St James’s Palace Stakes on The Gurkha (4.20). Aidan O’Brien’s colt would have been near the head of the betting for the Derby, had he turned up there, but connections saved him for this in the expectation that he can be a top-class miler.
He hosed up in the French Guineas a month ago and ought to have made further progress, considering that came about six weeks after his racecourse debut. The soft ground that will be such a problem for many a classy animal in Berkshire this week is no obstacle to The Gurkha, the selection having won a Navan maiden by nine lengths on a worse surface in April.
Awtaad moved smoothly through the Irish Guineas and must rate as a serious threat. Galileo Gold didn’t get the run of that race there but left the distinct impression he could do with a sounder surface than he will get here.
2.30 The ground has come right for Belardo, who could be called the form pick in any case after his Lockinge triumph. Esoterique appeals for a place but Tepin looks opposable in such unfamiliar circumstances.
3.05 O’Brien could land the Coventry for a third time in six runnings. His Caravaggio won a Listed contest in a good-looking time at The Curragh. Thunder Snow could emerge as the danger.
3.40 The betting expects Mecca’s Angel to avenge her reappearance defeat but it may be worth sticking with her Haydock conqueror, Profitable, who seems a different horse this year and was pulling away at the finish.
5.00 Three from five on the Flat, Silver Concorde looks handily treated, just 2lb higher than for his never-nearer third in the Chester Cup. He won the Irish November Handicap last autumn, looks the right type for this and should be staying on remorselessly up the straight.
5.35 It seems to have taken a few runs for the penny to drop with Tomily, a half-brother to a fast filly who was fourth in the Queen Mary Stakes here a few years ago, also trained by Richard Hannon. After two initial defeats, Tomily made all to score at Brighton and Chepstow, coping well with a soft surface on the latter occasion. It is easy to like the progress he is making and he is certainly among the most experienced in this field.
