Unfortunately, I am out from Saturday midday onwards, so I cannot comment on how the runners performed.
Cathedral 6/5 (1pt) – Chantilly 2.50
Unfortunately, I am out on Saturday before the odds have been compiled. Hopefully, Cathedral will not be too short in this market.
Cathedral was a losing selection for me when I tipped her up at Lingfield at the start of the season. She was well backed in that race, but was clearly still learning on the job despite it being her third run. Last time out, she ran in the Group 1 fillies' race at Royal Ascot. Personally, I gave her little chance based on her Lingfield effort, but she ran a very strong race. At odds of 33/1, she finished in fourth spot, which is definitely the best piece of form in this race.
In hindsight, her run at Royal Ascot probably wasn't a total shock. She was a solid juvenile and was beaten into second spot by Merrily in a Group 3. Given how well she was fancied on her return at Lingfield, connections must have thought she was going to be a very good filly this year, and last time out she proved that is the case. After the result at Royal Ascot, I thought it probably wasn't that great as the winner was a 33/1 shot. However, January has since franked the form by finishing second to Cinderella's Dream and recording an RPR of 116. The runner-up at Ascot was the French Guineas winner, and is a very good horse, but quirky.
Cathedral is trying a slightly longer trip today, and given how she stayed on in the dying stages at Ascot, it looks to be the correct move.
Relaxx is the one I am most concerned about. She is progressing nicely this year and put in a strong career best last time out. The form isn't fantastic, but you can't knock her based on how easily she won.
Imperial Me Cen 3/1 (1pt) – Chantilly 4.00
I think focusing on the French pair in this small field is the right thing to do.
Tadej is the horse you'd probably want to focus on if you're backing an English or Irish horse in this race. Even then, I don't think he has the quality that the French pair have.
Moojeed beat Imperial Me Cen in a Listed race last time around at this venue over this trip. Imperial Me Cen was trying the trip for the first time, and was ridden far too quietly. His runs over five furlongs suggested that he would relish the extra furlong, so having him four or five lengths off the pace all race in a slowly run race was not ideal. With that experience, and a different jockey on board, I'd love to see them be a little more proactive on this lad and sit him closer to the pace. He battered Moojeed when the pair met on their debut runs, so I think he is the better horse.
Green Sense's run behind Lady Iman is good form, but she couldn't beat her over 6f, and that is not the winner's ideal trip. The winner is all about speed, and still couldn't outlast her. Also, she was horrendous in the Albany at Royal Ascot.
GambleAware