Going for higher-priced horses hasn't been the way to go this week, making it difficult for each-way multiples to go close.
Caspi Star was horrendous after being up with the pace. She was tailed off in last place, after being friendless in the market.
Raafeed was unlucky as he got into multiple brawling matches. It's hard to say where he could have finished.
English Oak was strong in the market, but showed nothing like last year's performance. James Doyle did the right thing and eased him up when he knew he had no chance.
Babouche 9/2 (5pl) – Ascot 3.05 (Commonwealth Cup Group 1)
It's strange to see the favourite dropping back in trip and coming for the Group 1, as they did the same with Symbol Of Honour, and that horse has been loving life as a sprinter. Considering they have decided to go down this route, it suggests this horse is better and no doubt they will have trained together, so market vibes leave the impression he could be tough to beat.
The favourite was very good on soft ground last year, so I think you've got to take him on, even though he was 3rd in the 2000 Guineas. Babouche was the one who caught my eye. I think he is an out-and-out sprinter and built for fast ground. Last time out, he beat Whistlejacket, who is a solid horse, and he beat him with ease. I believe Whistlejacket needs soft ground, so I can't envisage the form will be reversed.
It was an impressive run last time out by Ger Lyons' horse, and given that Colin Keane has decided to ride him over the French Guineas second, it is a big confidence booster. I think that there are a lot of horses who should not be in this race, horses being rated in the 100s who don't really have a great chance of winning.
I'm not a draw bias kind of guy, but it's hard to ignore how the stand's rail has been highly beneficial, so Babouche being drawn in 18 of 22 has to be a positive sign.
Falakeyah 5/2 (3pl) – Ascot 4.20 (Coronation Stakes Group 1)
It might sound ridiculous, but I don't think this Group 1 is a strong race at all. We have the French Guineas winner turning up, so there are obviously strong candidates, but I think Falakeyah could be in a league of her own.
The level of form Falakeyah has shown so far is chalk and cheese compared to the horses that have proven Group form, but the eye test suggests this could be a very special filly.
This filly from the Owen Burrows yard has tonnes of speed, and I think if the Pretty Polly was run over a mile, she would have won the race on the bridle and by further. That race is over 10f, and I think her worst furlong was the final one, even though the ones behind weren't closing. She looks all about speed, so the drop back to 1m on rattling ground will be ideal for her.
My main concern is the draw. She is drawn in stall 2, which could be problematic if she doesn't get a prominent position. We've seen all week that if you're next to the rail, it's very difficult to get the gaps. Jim Crowley will have to be on his A-game from this stall, and given he hasn't had the best of weeks, that is a problem.
Zahrann 10/3 (3pl) – Ascot 5.35 (King Edward VII Stakes Group 2)
The way this week has been going, it would be very foolish to go against Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien, but I am going to do just that.
Puppet Master won the Lingfield Derby Trial, but it wasn't a vintage performance. Some will say he was given that win, as the lesser fancied stablemate in the runner-up did seem to be very easy whilst Ryan Moore was extremely animated. I think the runner-up is a solid horse, so I do think the form is decent. However, Aidan doesn't have the best of records in this race, but that's due to him not fielding his best horses for it. Outside of Japan, he normally sends his weaker middle-distance horses, and that's why they get beaten in this race. I think today could be similar.
I am keen to take on the favourite as Ralph Beckett's horses have been running extremely poorly. Zahrann was the one I landed on for Johnny Murtagh. I think it is hard not to be impressed by his win last time out at Leopardstown. That track is suited to front-runners, so the fact that he came from last to first in a matter of a furlong showed that he is a very classy animal. The form isn't the best, but the runner-up is a solid horse. I liked the turn of foot and the fact that he was still green. I think there's bags of potential with the Aga Khan horse, and I think he should be the favourite.
Treble odds: 82.41/1
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