The H
4th June 2004, 21:01
form In The Know magazine
DERBY - 1 MILE 4 FURLONGS - EPSOM - SAT JUNE 5TH
AMERICAN POST- Showed plenty of pace to land the Grand Criterium at Longchamp and the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last year and has carried on this spring when taking the Prix de Fontainebleau before his first target of the French 2000 Guineas. However, has plenty of stamina in his pedigree and his style of running suggests the extra half-mile should be well within his range. Criquette Maarek-Head is unusually bullish about this colt's Epsom chances and boasts the best level of juvenile form. Drying ground a worry. (8/1)
COMING AGAIN - Barry Hills' maiden is surely out of his depth here. Second to Motive in Windsor maiden on latest effort. Would need to improve over two stone to score here. (200/1)
ELSHADI- Not seen out since disappointing behind Fantastic View at Ascot last October. A big ask of this one to win here and would be a near-miraculous training performance. (40/1)
GATWICK - Has been a revelation in handicaps this season and is clearly progressing but it would be a surprise to see him land this big prize. (20/1)
HAZYVIEW - Just seems to get better and better and hard to discount as each time the bar is raised, he rises to the task. (50/1)
LET THE LION ROAR - Pulled well clear of the rest of the field when defeating the useful Top Seed at Newbury in April over ten furlongs and should be even better at this trip. Needs to improve again to figure here but an intended run in the Dante should prove more informative. As a half-brother to Millenary, he may even prove best suited by the St Leger. (12/1)
MASSIF CENTRALE - Looks a banker for a run-of- the-mill maiden but looks totally outclassed here. Would be a major shock. (200/1)
MEATH - Stayed on well when just outbattled by Grey Swallow on his reappearance and has since scored at The Curragh, but seems to be a little down the pecking order at Ballydoyle. (20/1)
NORTH LIGHT - Readily won a Goodwood maiden on his second juvenile start and has plenty of stamina on the dam's side. Was always likely to make a much better three-year-old and won Dante Stakes well enough, showing a nice turn of speed in the process. A clear cut chance. (11/4)
PERCUSSIONIST - The 'Dark Horse' of the race if you like, as it's difficult to assess just what he's achieved this season. If you take the form literally, his ten length defeat of Hazyview was astounding and it wouldn't take much improvement to see him figure here. (7/1)
PUKKA - Form of maiden win could amount to anything and is clearly well above average but would need to improve considerably to win. (20/1)
RULE OF LAW - Second in the Dante and has solid each-way claims as there is surely more to come. Must be on the short-list. (16/1)
SALFORD CITY - Proved connections' high opinion of him correct when landing the Greenham but that race may have been a little substandard and seemed outpaced when only sixth in the Guineas afterwards. Clearly has ability to win more Group races but may prove, like his half-brother Salford Express and stablemate Norse Dancer, to be best at the intermediate ten furlongs. (7/1)
SNOW RIDGE - Finished very strongly to land the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot last autumn and no surprise that the Dewhurst proved too sharp afterwards. Switched from Marcus Tregoning to Goldophin over the winter and proved his homework was no fluke when a running-on second in the 2000 Guineas on his reappearance. Impossible to crab that form and stout breeding on the dam's side reinforces the impression that he will relish this extra distance and must be a leading candidate. (9/4)
Selection: PERCUSSIONIST (ew)
Danger: Snow Ridge
DERBY - 1 MILE 4 FURLONGS - EPSOM - SAT JUNE 5TH
AMERICAN POST- Showed plenty of pace to land the Grand Criterium at Longchamp and the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last year and has carried on this spring when taking the Prix de Fontainebleau before his first target of the French 2000 Guineas. However, has plenty of stamina in his pedigree and his style of running suggests the extra half-mile should be well within his range. Criquette Maarek-Head is unusually bullish about this colt's Epsom chances and boasts the best level of juvenile form. Drying ground a worry. (8/1)
COMING AGAIN - Barry Hills' maiden is surely out of his depth here. Second to Motive in Windsor maiden on latest effort. Would need to improve over two stone to score here. (200/1)
ELSHADI- Not seen out since disappointing behind Fantastic View at Ascot last October. A big ask of this one to win here and would be a near-miraculous training performance. (40/1)
GATWICK - Has been a revelation in handicaps this season and is clearly progressing but it would be a surprise to see him land this big prize. (20/1)
HAZYVIEW - Just seems to get better and better and hard to discount as each time the bar is raised, he rises to the task. (50/1)
LET THE LION ROAR - Pulled well clear of the rest of the field when defeating the useful Top Seed at Newbury in April over ten furlongs and should be even better at this trip. Needs to improve again to figure here but an intended run in the Dante should prove more informative. As a half-brother to Millenary, he may even prove best suited by the St Leger. (12/1)
MASSIF CENTRALE - Looks a banker for a run-of- the-mill maiden but looks totally outclassed here. Would be a major shock. (200/1)
MEATH - Stayed on well when just outbattled by Grey Swallow on his reappearance and has since scored at The Curragh, but seems to be a little down the pecking order at Ballydoyle. (20/1)
NORTH LIGHT - Readily won a Goodwood maiden on his second juvenile start and has plenty of stamina on the dam's side. Was always likely to make a much better three-year-old and won Dante Stakes well enough, showing a nice turn of speed in the process. A clear cut chance. (11/4)
PERCUSSIONIST - The 'Dark Horse' of the race if you like, as it's difficult to assess just what he's achieved this season. If you take the form literally, his ten length defeat of Hazyview was astounding and it wouldn't take much improvement to see him figure here. (7/1)
PUKKA - Form of maiden win could amount to anything and is clearly well above average but would need to improve considerably to win. (20/1)
RULE OF LAW - Second in the Dante and has solid each-way claims as there is surely more to come. Must be on the short-list. (16/1)
SALFORD CITY - Proved connections' high opinion of him correct when landing the Greenham but that race may have been a little substandard and seemed outpaced when only sixth in the Guineas afterwards. Clearly has ability to win more Group races but may prove, like his half-brother Salford Express and stablemate Norse Dancer, to be best at the intermediate ten furlongs. (7/1)
SNOW RIDGE - Finished very strongly to land the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot last autumn and no surprise that the Dewhurst proved too sharp afterwards. Switched from Marcus Tregoning to Goldophin over the winter and proved his homework was no fluke when a running-on second in the 2000 Guineas on his reappearance. Impossible to crab that form and stout breeding on the dam's side reinforces the impression that he will relish this extra distance and must be a leading candidate. (9/4)
Selection: PERCUSSIONIST (ew)
Danger: Snow Ridge