City Of Troy, ridden by Ryan Moore, on their way to winning the Derby. Photograph: John Walton/PA
At The Races
1 2:15 PM – Coral Play ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Handicap
STORM STAR lost little in defeat when finishing fourth behind some potentially useful rivals in a hot novice event at Kempton last month and, making his handicap debut off what looks a workable mark, the son of Night Of Thunder gets the tentative vote in a competitive affair. Swindon didn’t look entirely at home on the track when fourth over a mile at Goodwood on his handicap bow most recently, and better can be expected off an unchanged mark, while recent C&D winner Spanish Blaze must also enter calculations in a fascinating renewal.
Top Tip: STORM STAR (4)
Watch out for: SWINDON (2)
2 2:50 PM – Coral Charge (Group 3) (Registered As The Sprint Stakes)
Live In The Dream is undoubtedly a high-class performer over the minimum trip and he merits respect, but on the back of a below-par effort in a Haydock Listed race last month, it may pay to side with DESPERATE HERO. Jack Channon’s charge accounted for multiple subsequent winners when bolting up over 5f in a Hamilton handicap last time, and this upwardly mobile sprinter looks worth his place at this level. Classy on his day, Twilight Calls is well capable of playing a hand in a race of this nature and, sporting cheekpieces for the first time, a bold showing is anticipated.
Top Tip: DESPERATE HERO (3)
Watch out for: LIVE IN THE DREAM (5)
3 3:25 PM – Coral Challenge (Handicap)
Perotto (third) got the better of HOLLOWAY BOY (fifth) when the pair met in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last month, but the latter wasn’t seen to best effect after being short of room at a crucial stage before running on well close home. With that in mind, Karl Burke’s charge gets the vote to reverse that form off 1lb better terms en route to victory here. Two Tempting (first) and Classic (second) battled it out over C&D last month and the duo look to have solid claims of at least hitting the frame once more.
Top Tip: HOLLOWAY BOY (2)
Watch out for: PEROTTO (4)
4 4:00 PM – Coral Distaff (Fillies’ Listed)
Soprano got up to take the Sandringham at Royal Ascot by half a length last month and that performance has earned her a rating of 107, which makes her the top-rated in this contest. However, she looks worth taking on with the John & Thady Gosden-trained REGAL JUBILEE. The daughter of Frankel suffered interference at a vital stage when taking home the silver medal at this level at Goodwood in May and, with a clearer passage this time around, she could be the one to beat. Clove Hitch has plenty of scope for improvement and is another to keep an eye on.
Top Tip: REGAL JUBILEE (5)
Watch out for: SOPRANO (6)
5 4:35 PM – Coral-Eclipse (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
Derby hero CITY OF TROY is likely to prove a very warm order for this contest, as that form has already been franked with his stablemate, Los Angeles (third), taking the Irish Derby last week. Aidan O’Brien’s colt has his first attempt at this trip, but he showed plenty of pace as a juvenile, so that is unlikely to catch him out. Ghostwriter looks the main danger after he finished in front of the selection in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and he backed that up with a respectable fourth in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. Dancing Gemini may improve for this drop back in trip and he completes the shortlist.
Top Tip: CITY OF TROY (4)
Watch out for: GHOSTWRITER (6)
6 5:12 PM – Coral Racing Club Handicap
Midnight Rumble impressed when scoring over this trip at Lingfield and should go well if transferring that form back to turf off a 6lb higher mark. Fellow last-time-out winner Dramatic Effect also appeals, with the step up in trip potentially a source for improvement. However, the latter was no match for BLAKE when they clashed here in May and, having subsequently finished a respectable fourth over 1m2f in a deeper race at Epsom, Peter Chapple-Hyam’s colt shades preference back at this happy hunting ground.
Top Tip: BLAKE (3)
Watch out for: MIDNIGHT RUMBLE (7)
7 5:47 PM – Coral Daily Rewards Shaker Handicap
The weight-for-age allowance hands the three-year-olds, Dambuster and BALMACARA a potentially big advantage. While the former is open to any amount of improvement on his handicap debut, the latter has latent potential in his pedigree and can make the greater strides now he faces a sterner test of stamina, with a first-time hood added. Chasing Aphrodite is feared off just 4lb higher than his C&D win last month, while Persica and Truthful are other solid contenders to monitor in the betting.
Top Tip: BALMACARA (14)
Watch out for: DAMBUSTER (15)
