Our first juvenile action of the week sees the two-year-old colts and geldings take centre stage in a race that features an abundance of potential and raw talent.
Our first juvenile action of the week sees the two-year-old colts and geldings take centre stage in a race that features an abundance of potential and raw talent.
The home contingent looks to be fronted by Asadna and it was impossible not to be impressed with his twelve-length debut rout at Ripon one month ago. The son of Mehmas (who finished runner-up to Caravaggio in this race in 2016) cost 160,000gns as a breeze-up purchase and certainly looked to have a degree of star quality when winning first-time-out. It's probably fair to state he didn't beat all that much on debut, but he had clock watchers purring when recording a time much quicker than the two three-year-old contests over the same distance on that Ripon card.
Archie Watson, Hollie Doyle, and Victorious Racing & Fawzi Nass teamed up to land last year's renewal with Bradsell and they look to have a similar type in the shape of Army Ethos. Archie Watson's unbeaten colt was strong in the market when making an impressive winning debut at Ayr last month. The son of Shalaa looked extremely professional off the front end on that occasion and with an entry in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh later this month, this colt is clearly held in some regard.
Once again, that man Aidan O'Brien appears to lead the Irish challenge and River Tiber looks like a colt of immense quality. The Wootton Bassett colt cost 480,000gns as a yearling and made a sparkling debut when landing a five-and-a-half-furlong event at Navan before backing that up with a cosy success at Naas. On both occasions, he was strong at the finish and the step up to six-furlongs looks sure to suit. The form of that Naas victory looks solid with horses in behind acquitting themselves well since and there's every chance this well-bred colt could provide his trainer with a record-extending tenth success in the juvenile opener.
The booking of Frankie Dettori has added interest to Givemethebeatboys chances. A son of Bungle Inthejungle, he showed a tremendous attitude to retain his unbeaten record when landing the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh second-time-out. His proven form over the six-furlong trip will surely stand him in good stead and a replication of that recent Group 3 success ought to see him enter the reckoning.
Elsewhere, there is plenty to like about the way Bucanero Fuerte won the opening two-year-old contest of the season at the Curragh and he's seemingly the pick of AMO Racing's retained rider Kevin Stott. Watch My Tracer won smartly on debut at Yarmouth and could go well at longer odds while Haatem, who missed the break so badly in the Woodcote at Epsom cannot be ignored alongside intriguing US contender Fandom, who represents the Wesley Ward team.
WIN: RIVER TIBER (General 15/8)
DARK HORSE: Haatem (General 33/1)
