1.50pm - Group 3 Coral Charge
In this typically wide-open five-furlong contest, Live In The Dream could just be far too quick for the rest of these, and ratings alone would suggest he is also clear in that manner. However, he was disappointing as the short-priced favourite in his Listed race at Haydock last time, when he stumbled out of the stalls and had to use up too much petrol to get to the front end.
That means there is always a risk when backing this horse, as he can clearly only run one way and that is to shoot out the stalls and blitz them from the front. I just feel there is a real risk to backing a horse like that as if he breaks wrong, it is game over, although those sort of performances, especially over the five-furlong trip can be very good to watch.
With that in mind I am going to side with the red-hot Desperate Hero for Jack Channon and Callum Rodriguez, who arrives into this race off the back of two very nice victories. The first win was a neck victory over King's Lynn in a class 2 handicap contest at Goodwood, but it was last time out that really caught the eye, when he dotted up in another class 2 handicap contest at Hamilton.
He absolutely scooted clear by more than four lengths, running on very well in the closing stages, and since then 14 horses in behind have run, five of which have won (they are American Affair (2nd), Marine Wave (3rd), Moon Flight (5th), Bergerac (9th) and Jordan Electrics (14th), with the last one being the most important as Jordan Electrics has since come out and won 3 times, as well as coming 2nd once, taking his mark from 78 up to 85).
The form of that Hamilton race alone is enough to say he deserves to take a chance at Group 3 level, and given the fact he won it in the manner that he did, I think he is sure to take another step forward and run well in this. A 13lb raise in the weights and running off by far a career-high mark should not cause any issues for this lad, as he is clearly thriving at present and really putting it altogether now.
- Selection - Desperate Hero (9/2 Win)
3.00pm - Listed Coral Distaff
Another tricky contest to really decipher here, but it does look to have a little bit of quality in it this year, with a few well-bred types in the Juddmonte colours, as well as some lightly-raced improving types with real potential.
I really like the look of Ryan Moore's ride here for Andrew Balding who has won this race two times previously, once with Blond Me back in 2015 as well as Auria back in 2021, so he clearly knows what it takes to land this Listed prize with one of his fillies.
Clove Hitch only ran once for connections as a two-year-old, when sent off the odds-on favourite at Newbury. She did disappoint in coming a distant 5th, beaten by 12 lengths or so, and she was not raced after that and was given plenty of time to strengthen up as they prepared a three year old campaign for her.
That appears to have worked for the daughter of Siyouni, who was a 2¾-length third behind Economics (who has since come out and hacked up in the Group 2 Dante), before the Balding horse went on to come runner-up at Windsor in a class 2 fillies’ maiden contest, only just beaten by half a length by a horse who looked to have stayed on better that day.
Those two runs clearly put her right for her third start, which was an 8-length win in a novice contest at Newbury, where she broke well, made all and pulled further and further clear. She was entitled to win that contest as she was the odds-on market leader, but the manner in which she won the contest does suggest she is starting to get her act together now and look like a potential star for the Balding and Juddmonte team.
She was a 725,000 gns yearling who is bred in the purple, and with the power of Ryan Moore on her back this Saturday, I don't think the step up in class to Listed level will stop her. The opening mark of 102 could be argued as a little high given she has only won once, but that close-up 3rd behind a Group 2 winner would suggest there is plenty more to come from her, and I feel that all starts on Saturday as she will look to land just her 2nd ever race, winning at Listed level at the very first time of asking.
- Clove Hitch - (3/1 Win)
3.35pm - Group 1 Coral-Eclipse
Although there are a few nice types set to line up in this contest, they are just ultimately chasing shadows behind the 124-rated City Of Troy, who was absolutely brilliant in the Derby last time out. It is refreshing to see so many three-year-olds lining up in this contest on Saturday, which could either work in their favour or against them as they come up against a few more experienced and older rivals.
With that in mind I just think City Of Troy wins this, and wins this well for Aidan O’Brien, who has landed the contest a record seven times previously, he could easily make it 8 here on Saturday with probably his best chance ever to win it. There will be obvious question marks behind the AOB horse due to his disappointment in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, just like whenever Auguste Rodin runs, but I just feel COT needed the run before the Guineas, and even Aidan admitted himself he probably just didn't have him cooked right and ready for the feature classic at Newmarket back in May, meaning he was much more ready to go for the Derby at Epsom last month.
His Derby performance was excellent, and although runner-up Ambiente Friendly could not back his performance up in the Irish equivalent, Troy's stablemate Los Angeles, who was third in the Epsom Derby, landed the contest in very game fashion, so the form of the Derby has somewhat worked out nicely in the end.
We all know about City Of Troy's excellent two-year-old campaign, where he was the best rated since Frankel, and granted he did disappoint in the 2000 Guineas, he soon put that to bed in the Derby the next time out, stamping his authority once again and looking like the star we all know racing needs. It is good to have a talented horse who is a real talking point, and I think Troy is the exact type we need for flat racing.
He isn't exactly a real flashy type, doesn't look overly big and not the sort to blow you away when looking at him in the paddock, but he does have that slight aura about him when walking around, an aura of that he knows how classy he is.
O'Brien seemingly adores this lad, and the Master of Ballydoyle is confident there is more to come and I can't wait to see him really stamp his authority as the best flat horse in training at the moment. I just hope he doesn't put in another Auguste Rodin moment and blow out here, but given the way he ran through the line in the Derby, we all know there is plenty more to come.
Watching the Derby back, he switched legs a few times but did so in the final furlong when getting behind the loose horse, he changed his lead leg and really powered on nicely once again, absolutely flying over the line.
That is the sign of a very good horse, and one who clearly had plenty more in the tank, which is remarkable given the fact of how much ground he had to make up down the Epsom straight. I can't wait to see him out once again, and I firmly hope there is another superstar performance from him once again on Saturday.
- Selection - City Of Troy (3/10)
All previews and tips provided by @ Jake Russell