Canford Cliffs can gain 2000 Guineas compensation
Touted as a potential superstar, after streaking away with the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last season, Richard Hannon’s colt hasn’t quite lived up to what were massive expectations.
Nevertheless, he is the one to beat now, on the evidence of his display in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket three weeks ago.
Partnered with restraint by Richard Hughes, Canford Cliffs made things very difficult for himself, refusing to settle for much of the trip.
That he proved capable of finishing to some effect to claim third behind shock winner Makfi and stable companion Dick Turpin was to his credit.
The selection holds Xtension (fourth), Fencing Master (seventh) and Viscount Nelson (eleventh) on that running and there seems no good reason why the placings should not be confirmed.
Steinbeck is the big danger and is almost certainly the best horse in the field. He won his maiden in smooth style at Naas last May and was then absent until reappearing in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October.
He ran a cracker to finish a close fourth behind Beethoven and if the market speaks in his favour then that would have to be afforded the utmost respect.
It is likely to be a long campaign for Steinbeck, however, and chances are Aidan O’Brien will have left plenty to work on with a view to the future!
O’Brien’s Samuel Morse is the choice in the Listed T P Waters EBF Marble Hill Stakes. Moment Of Weakness and Jolly Snake have stronger credentials, but the son of Danehill Dancer is fancied to improve past them.
He was an unfancied 7-1 shot when making a winning debut at the Curragh in April and can be expected to build substantially on that effort.
At the Curragh tomorrow the Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas has attracted a powerful field, but only a supreme optimist would be confident about finding the winner.
The nod falls on Tommy Stack’s Lolly For Dolly, who emerged from winning a modest Cork maiden to record an impressive success in a Group 3 at the Curragh. She has to come on a bundle again to be competitive against the likes of Gile Na Greine and Lillie Langtry, but just might do so.
Aidan O’Brien’s Fame And Glory has to get the nod in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, having cruised away from Recharge (rec.5lbs) to the tune of five lengths here earlier in the month.
The unbeaten in five races, Cutlass Bay, is clearly high class, but most of the evidence is that he’s at his best with plenty of cut in the ground.
O’Brien’s Jan Vermeer, winner of a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud in November, can concede weight all round in the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes.
And the nap vote falls on another O’Brien inmate, Bright Horizon, in the Kilsaran Lifestyle Maiden. He’s clearly no star, but ran with promise when fifth to Reiteration at the Curragh in March and this is a weak contest.
