Duke’s progression to continue
If Frankel is ridden as he was at Royal Ascot, Canford Cliffs will sweep by him as though he’s stopped. But if the Frankel that won the Guineas turns up, then he has the ability to come home alone.
It’s not a race to get too heavily involved in from a punting perspective, although the in-running betting should prove very interesting. Let’s hope there are no excuses for either horse and that the result reveals an undisputed champ.
The best bet on today’s card lies in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes, where the John Quinn-trained Red Duke ought to continue his rise up the ranks. After a promising third-placed finish on his debut, he followed up with victory in a Redcar maiden which subsequently had its form franked when the second and third both won a maiden next time out.
He then stepped up in class for the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket and, after travelling strongly for most of the trip, he overcame a troubled passage to beat one of today’s rivals, Chandlery, by a very comfortable neck.
For that victory, he has been burdened with a three-pound penalty but he looks vastly superior to the runner-up and ought to confirm the form despite today’s weight concession.
Richard Hannon, who trains Chandlery, handles four of the seven runners here, of which Red Seventy and Rockinante are both unbeaten. The former touched off two of his own stable companions in his two outings to date but he is taking a big leap forward and may not quite be up to this class.
Rockinante has only been to the track once but he showed distinct promise when producing a sustained effort to win a 15-runner maiden at Newmarket. There’s certainly more to come from him and, while it’s understandable stable jockey Richard Hughes has decided to stick with Chandlery, it could be that this one is the best of the Hannon quartet.
Of the others, Lethal Force is quite the enigma. He ran a fine race on his debut over five furlongs, looking like he would improve for the run and for a step up in trip. Then, on the sprint course here at Goodwood - a track which may not have suited him - he seemed to throw away a winning opportunity. He wandered around a little in the closing stages and lost second place in the Stewards’ room.
Though still a maiden, trainer Clive Cox chose to step him up to Group 2 company for his third run. In finishing fourth behind Power in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, he fared best of a rather large group that raced down the far side - looking, for the third time, as though he wanted further.
He would appear to have plenty in favour today (the round course is not as sharp as the sprint one) but there’s no denying that, for all his ability, he has his quirks. In an eight-runner field, it might have been worth taking an each-way plunge on him but today’s race will demand resolution and he’s not guaranteed to offer that.
There are no such concerns regarding Red Duke, who may come from an unfashionable stable as far as punters are concerned that should serve to keep his price reasonable. He is quite a big colt who will need time to fully realise his potential but he seems uncomplicated and can take this prize en route to bigger things.
