Film Score looks terrific each-way value
His Dewhurst form of last year, where he finished a close second behind stable-companion Beethoven, and his seventh place finish in the Newmarket Guineas at the start of this season make him the one to beat but he ran without zest at The Curragh recently and needs to leave that form way behind on his first try over ten furlongs.
His place at the head of today’s market is contested by Luca Cumani’s Afsare and the Royal runner, Quadrille, who hails from the in-form Richard Hannon stable. This latter finished second behind yesterday’s Jersey Stakes runner-up Red Jazz in the European Free Handicap and returned to winning ways at Newmarket last month.
That was his first effort at a mile and the manner in which he kicked clear that day suggests he’s deserving of his chance at today’s trip. That said, there’s no guarantee that his stamina will hold out. If it does so, he could provide a Royal winner but his price is short enough and the doubts sufficient to leave him alone for today.
Afsare has had just three outings and looks very progressive. He was visually impressive when trouncing one of today’s rivals, Wigmore Hall, at Doncaster last time out, where the step up to today’s trip seemed to play to his strengths. However, it might be wrong to take too much from the effort as the runner-up has not progressed as expected. He’s likely to be heavily involved but, at odds of around 4-1, he’s not screaming value.
David Elsworth’s Fair Trade has a big reputation but he found the Newmarket 2000 Guineas competition just too much too soon when three places and almost five lengths behind Fencing Master, who finished seventh. He promises to be better than that form suggests and has always the looked the type to make up into a decent sort over this trip.
If he makes the expected improvement for the jump up to this distance, he is not out of this but he idled particularly badly when just holding on to win his maiden and there’s a concern that he could prove hard to win with in future.
Brian Meehan’s Champagne Style is another capable of a big run at a huge price but his chance is based on three very promising runs last season. Unfortunately, he’s been off the track since October and market confidence is a must.
On full inspection of the form, this could be a less competitive renewal of the race than the field size suggests and that’s just part of the reason why the once-raced Film Score makes so much appeal. Mahmood Al Zarooni’s horse made his racing debut just less than three weeks ago but he left a deep impression when getting the better of the very highly-tried maiden Mata Keranjang.
Racing wide throughout, he quickened to challenge up the home-straight and sustained that effort quite fetchingly to earn a three-parts of a length victory over a horse boasting multiple placings in Group Company. The pair showed fine pace when pulling six lengths clear of the remainder and the winner may not have to improve as much as one might expect to capture today’s race.
Nevertheless, it can be assumed that he’s improved markedly for that outing and there must be a strong chance that he’ll prove well above this sort of level before the season is out. The only concern regarding the gelding is that he was kept away from the remainder of the field when making that winning debut. It could be construed that he’s been showing signs of temperament at home (an idea compounded by the fact that he’s already been gelded) or perhaps it could be put down to inexperience.
Either way, it’s unarguable that he showed a most willing attitude when asked to go and run down the favourite and he’s clearly a very exciting prospect. At prices touching double figures, he looks terrific each-way value to upset his more experienced rivals.
