Things didn’t quite work out for us last week even though we got great value with our ante-post prices. Albasharah (tipped at 6-1) was backed to 5-4 favourite but could do no better than third. Mars (20-1) finished fourth whilst I feared the chances of Wentworth when he was drawn in the car park. In the circumstances he didn’t run badly at all and surely has a decent race in him.
The show moves on to the carnival atmosphere of the July course at Newmarket with the July Cup on Saturday. This has all the makings of a championship race with three Royal Ascot winners set to clash.
Sole Power was overlooked at Ascot after his sub-standard run in Haydock’s Temple Stakes. There was a general opinion that he had gone off the boil from the dazzling form that he showed at Newmarket and perhaps his spring campaign in Dubai had taken its toll. Not a bit of it. He was brilliantly produced by Johnny Murtagh to cut down Shea Shea late on and reverse placings with those that had beaten him soundly at Haydock.
Among them was Reckless Abandon, third at Haydock but only fifth at Ascot. I was surprised that connections opted for the King’s Stand Stakes rather than the six-furlong Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Clive Cox also saddles Lethal Force who showed that his York run behind Society Rock was no fluke when winning at Ascot. The runner-up had to take an unusual route to throw down his challenge but appeared to be well held at the line.
Gale Force Ten is an intriguing runner having won the seven-furlong Jersey Stakes. He looked to be in trouble when Montiridge loomed up alongside but pulled out more in the closing stages. There has been plenty of money for him from 10-1 down to 7-1 but I’m just a little concerned that he will be tapped for toe early on.
Sovereign Debt is another curious participant having been racing over a mile. He was an 80-1 shot when second to Farhh in the Lockinge but ran well below that at Ascot. He ought to have been closer to the runner-up Aljamaaheer even if we allow for Declaration Of War’s improvement.
The bookies have made Shea Shea favourite after his run behind Sole Power and have no doubt that he will reverse the form. Sole Power is as big as 14-1 due to the fact that he has never won over six furlongs. The South African won his race on the far side fair and square but cannot even have seen the Irish horse arriving on the opposite side of the course.
Sole Power’s stable companion Slade Power missed the break in the Jubilee and did well to finish as close as he did. He then won well over five furlongs at the Curragh and could run into a place here. It is difficult to make a case for any of the others.
The draw may come into play again here but Shea Shea is just about the form pick and 9-2 still represents a little bit of value.
Shea Shea 9-2 Paddy Power
