Horse Racing
Season
Palace House Stakes - Form Comments

04/05/2018 16:15

G3 – 1000m – Turf

1 Alpha Delphini Beaten 4 1/4L eighth in this last year, but this year has had a prep race when leading most of the way and fighting back when headed – finishing a close second at Musselburgh. Adaptable groundwise, he’s from a family who tend to improve with age.
2 Encore d’Or Has a modest 1-14 winning strike-rate on turf and he’s run much better in three all-weather races recently than he did in two turf events at Meydan earlier in the year. However he’s very effective at this distance and usually races right up with the speed.
3 Judicial More relaxed than he used to be, he likes a strong pace to aim at. Three times a winner last season – all at this distance – probably doing best when winning a conditions’ race around Chester’s tight bends. Seasonal debut here whilst he’ll want good or preferably fast ground.
4 Jumira Bridge The winner of a Sandown handicap over this distance last season, running well on other occasions. Returning for a new stable after a 172-day break he closed from the back but couldn’t catch the front-running winner on the all-weather at Kempton last month.
5 Mirza This veteran sprinter has won 11 of his 64 starts and despite his age and the fact that he didn’t win last season, the figures were suggesting that he was still a classy speedster but looks to have a tough task on this return. His trainer says he prefers fast ground these days.
6 Ornate Has a modest 3-20 winning strike-rate on turf but he is rarely far from the prizemoney. Having his first start for a small stable that specialise in sprinters, he returns from a break but ran perhaps his best race when second in a Newmarket G2 on his first start of last season.
7 Equimou Won twice from 11 starts last year, both over this distance one win coming on fast ground, the other on slow. However, although he has been placed in Listed company he is basically a handicapper and is likely to struggle in this very competitive G3.
8 Mabs Cross Won her last four starts of 2017, concluding with a clear career-best performance at Musselburgh – stepping up to Listed class and trying a slow surface for first time. Also made a really good 2018 debut, held up and finishing strongly – maybe slightly unlucky – when second of 15 in a Bath Listed event.
9 Havana Grey Had a terrific two-year-old season with four wins and three seconds. That included a G3 win over 1000m at Goodwood, grabbing the favoured stands’ rails and leading throughout – tactics that suit him best. Also an excellent runner-up in a Deauville G1 over 1200m. He’s classy.