Wolf ready to pounce

Chasing losses with your favourite horses is usually a direct path to the poor house in punting terms but it could be worth giving Amadeus Wolf one more chance.

He was our each-way selection for the July Cup at Newmarket last month and came agonisingly close to a nice little pick-up when beaten in a photo for third place.

That day on the July course he was beaten less than a length by Les Arcs, who must now be regarded as the leading sprinter on these shores after picking up the top two mid-season sprinting prizes.

In second that day was Iffraaj, who has already landed a Group Two at Glorious Goodwood over seven furlongs since, and Ashdown Express, a reliable yardstick in the top sprints.

For Amadeus Wolf, only a three-year-old, to perform with such credit against the older horses at that stage of the season was a great effort and he was nearly eight lengths clear of his nearest colleague from the Classic generation.

Indeed, Kevin Ryan thought so much of the son of the speedy Mozart that he had his first outing this season in the 2000 Guineas but found the trip of a mile beyond him.

He was far from disgraced, however, and at the two furlong pole he was travelling as well as anything before a lack of stamina took its toll.

Another fine run in the Golden Jubilee followed, against his elders for the first time, when he finished fifth behind Les Arcs again and then he went for the July Cup.

He has run again since Newmarket and once more he was not beaten far. He fared best of a strong British raiding party in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last weekend.

The race was won by a three-year-old, Marchand D’Or, which has hopefully signalled the time of year has come that the younger horses are now beginning to compete on a level playing field.

That contest was also over the specialist distance of six and a half furlongs, once against stretching Amadeus Wolf’s stamina – he is a pure sprinter.

What was pleasing was the fact that he turned the tables on Ashdown Express in no uncertain fashion on virtually the same terms, proving that he is still on the upgrade whereas most in this field will have seen better days.

Sponsors Betfred are the only firm betting on the race at present but the 10-1 on offer still looks fantastic value as the presence of Iffraaj compresses the head of the market.

He does not have much to find with the favourite and he will be racing over his favoured trip with hopefully a bit of cut in the ground.