On the basis that stamina comes from the dam and ground preference from the sire, then the ground will not suit Canford Cliffs. His sire ( tagula) had a distinct preference for fast ground, every time he encountered soft or worse, he was beaten. Goldikova has the repeat winners and age stat against her,plus the non-committed comments from the trainer after her d'Ispahan win. softening ground also brings in Cityscape and Rio de la Plata. Ergo;

Place lay both Canford Cliffs and Goldikova. Potentially 5 horses going for 2 places.

Ascot Stakes 5.00 Australia Day 20/1 EW 4 Places

Made a name for himself last year with a couple of impressive win over hurdles, ran well on the flat in 2009 and 2010 is now on his lowest mark for 2 years only 3lbs higher then his last win, has a good record at Ascot of two 2nds and a 4th.

Has never raced over further then 2m1f but the track record he set at Kempton last year suggests it shouldn't be a problem, hasn't raced for 7 months but the booking of Murtagh is a plus.

Place lay Canford and Goldikova? are you mad?

Similar conditions last year, Goldikova beat Paco Boy by a neck. Hannon and Hughes are adamant Canford is the best horse they have had.

The only thing that worries me is Richard Hughes. If he cocks it up, it is usually in style. Recent example Dubawi Gold in the Irish Guineas (not speaking through my pocket as I had Dunboyne Express in my patent).

He must get it spot on. Canford is the sort of horse - with his finishing burst - you only get one run with (like Paco).

Goldikova is obviously brilliant, but at the age of 6 she may be vulnerable to Canford's younger legs. At 4, he should be at the peak of his powers and seems to have grown a lot since 3. After all she has done for connections, don't think they would consider 2nd the end of the world. She was probably kept in training with one main aim - another Breeders Cup Mile.


For the Kings Stand, I like the look of Sole Power. A lot of the foreign trainers seem rather bullish about their chances but the one could be Sole Power. Overdose is likely to blaze a trail again, and that could set up a repeat of the Temple Stakes from Haydock. Sole Power should be travelling well and, unless something else is going similarly well and finishes better, he could be the one to beat.


Frankel looks unopposable in the St James's Palace. No reason to see why any of the others should reverse the form. Despite having room for improvement, Frankel probably does too. Wootton Bassett looks an excellent bet for a place though, was excellent at two and according to Fahey cut his own throat in the French Guineas due to his early keenness. Hanagan didn't want to have to make the running that day but that is how it turned out, especially from his poor draw too. Should definitely fill one of the places, probably fighting it out with Grand Prix Boss, Dubawi Gold and Excellebration. Will be fascinating to see how Dream Ahead runs on his first start at three.


Barry Hills has laid Mezmaah out for this and won very well on debut at Haydock and should've improved, as expected, for the experience. Power is one to take seriously though, O'Brien is never short of a talented juvenile so he obviously thinks this one is up to the standard required. Won well on debut and just found the 5f too sharp last time but managed to hold on, was a listed race too. Races like this though you never know where the most potential for improvement may lie.


Junior should be thereabouts in the next but is a lot farther up the weights than he was last year, although he does seem to have improved a lot over jumps during the winter so there could still be improvement in him. I like the look of the Gosden horse, Zigato. Looks to have a good profile for it, and doesn't carry too much weight either. Won at Ascot last time out over 2m after looking unlucky during running, the 6lb rise shouldn't stop him going close here over the exta half mile.


Similar to the Coventry, there could be improvement to come from anywhere. Could be a big priced winner here. I'm going for either Worthington or Gentleman's Code. Wesley Ward trains the latter in America and he has sent over some very fast front runners, could blitz them from the front like one of his others did a couple of years ago. Worthington won well on debut at Carlisle, looks the Fahey first string and should have bags of improvement to come. Not a race to get too heavily involved in.


My picks for tomorrow;

Canford Cliffs
Sole Power
Frankel
Power
Zigato
Gentleman's Code

Flash Dance sets a fast pace with Goldi tracking 2f out Goldi hits the front stalked by Canford who gets up on the line.

The End

Overdose 12/1 EW 4 places

They seemed really bullish about the Haydock run until the day and then came out saying it doesn't matter if he doesn't win seems abit weird and the rain is a bonus which help as the jockey said his action went higher and higher at Haydock.

Treble @ 10/3

Canford Cliffs
So You Think
Frankel

5/2 Double

Canford Cliffs and Frankel

Yeah Overdose will probably like this slightly softer ground. They asked his trainer for any possible reason he wasn't closer at the finish at Haydock and he said 'the ground'.





I fancy that treble too

Not a fan, should never really have won the Nunthope, only for a few underperformers it'd never have won. Astrophysical Jet at 12/1 looks a great bet, will love the good ground too.

Coventry Stakes 10/1 place B Fifty Two

Won 2 of its 3 starts last seen beating Lilbourne Lad who has since boosted the form hacking up in Listed race, pretty big price just to place.

20/1 on Paddy Power paying 4 places.