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May 28th SUMMING UP
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A race that has seen smaller fields on occasions but coupled with a going
description with 'Heavy' in it the four runners make for an relatively
uninformative race. Last year's race had twelve runners of which ten won
during the year although the only Listed or Group winners was Salut D'Amour
in the race itself. That matched the recent record of the event with odd
Group places the best that the fields achieved later.
There have already been two Listed races in the season, both new in 2005,
and they presumably have also impacted on the field here. Both those events
have been lowish quality by Listed standards, both run on softish going
and both won by R. Hannon with offspring of his old inmate Redback.
Here he relies on Cav Okay who on TV picture viewing made as striking
a debut as we have seen this season. Pinging from the stalls, getting into
a fast rhythm on firm ground and running away from his rivals. Subsequently
the quality of the runners behind him has proved to be moderate to average
and none have won since.
He ran in the Lily Agnes next and was held off the rail and forced into
a duel for the lead by Lord Charles (a typically well drilled Bill Turner
2yo). He did not look the same horse on a turning track and never really
got into his rhythm. He had shown a slight fade on his debut late in the
race and having assisted with a good pace at Chester was stalling entering
the final furlong. It is difficult to get the image of his fast ground
action and early pace out of one's mind and this stiff, uphill, 5f on testing
going just feels 'wrong'. In an ideal world he'll get beaten here and then
win at a good price when he, literally, bounces back to form on straight
track like York. That's the theory anyway.
He has a good opponent anyway in Excellent Art who has the profile
to be a better athlete than Cav Okay. His shrewd trainer usually has a
plan with all his 2yos and is good at assessing their ability before they
run. He entered this one in a Conditions race for it's debut (having missed
a March run through a minor injury) although it was a non-runner and won
a strong maiden on the next day instead (perhaps he thought the field was
too strong and it had more depth than this Listed race). Coupled to a good
pedigree and an above average sales review he present the profile to be
the best here even without Cav Okay's niggles.
Urban Warrior was already having his fifth run when finishing
midfield in that Conditions that Excellent Art dodged. He only cost 3,000
guineas so his early season win means he has already performed better than
expected. He has never looked a true 5f horse and even on this stiff track
the better horses will have too much pace for him. However, he's probably
going to add 'Listed Placed' to his CV and get printed in 'Black Type'
in sales catalogues, third would be a right result.
Trainer J. Boyle had a good 2005 with two winners and a good placer from
just five 2yos runners. In general his 2yos are well prepared for debut
and occasionally place in bigger fields if they have ability. He has already
run two this season who have competed moderately FTO, so either has changed
strategy or they were both moderate horses (likely). He runs Dress To
Impress who from his sales picture looked ready to run then. The oblique
angle shot shows a typically mature but also narrow Fasliyev type who ought
to make a ready 2yo but with limitations for development. Therefore, we
may well see close to the best of him here. If he's average he might beat
Urban Warrior and if Cav Okay 'bursts' in the last furlong he might catch
him. But, surely Excellent Art is just better and also a bit more 'clunker'
resistant than Cav Okay.
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