Horse Racing
Season
Jersey Stakes - Form Comments

19/06/2018 16:44

G3 – 1400m – Turf

1 James Garfield Won a prestigious G2 over 1200m at Newbury last September, proving that he had developed into a smart three-year-old by winning a G3 on the same track in April. Just below very top class, but he is tough and versatile and with a will to win.
2 Glorious Journey A lightly-raced but classy colt who won a G3 on just his second start, leading all the way in a 1400m at Saint-Cloud last September. He needed his 2018 return and then may not have quite lasted the 1800m trip when still a good third in a Chantilly G3.
3 Nebo Had some strong two-year-old form including a G3 victory over this distance at Newbury last October. However he’s been soundly beaten in both starts this season so no evidence yet that he’s going to be a top three-year-old.
4 Another Batt Plenty of good runs at Listed level – including almost winning over this course and distance last July – and a handicap winner around Chester’s tight bends two starts back. A tougher handicap mark may have found him out at Goodwood last time.
5 Arabian Coast Made favourite to win a 1400m maiden event over this distance on fast ground at Leicester last month. Sitting off the pace, his jockey eased him into a challenging position 400m out, eventually gaining a stylish success on that only career start.
6 Arbalet Has won two of his seven starts, including last time when – despite being pushed along off the speed for some of the journey – he decisively outclassed his eight rivals at the wire of that 1377m novices’ event at Carlisle. Much tougher here.
7 Brother Bear Was less than 1L fourth in a 1200m two-year-old G2 at this meeting last year. Went off the boil but appeared to be recapturing his form when the decisive winner of a Listed event over this distance at Naas last month.
8  Emaraaty A very smart and improving colt who led close home only to be grabbed in the last stride by a highly progressive rival (who was 10lb lighter in the handicap) in a red-hot handicap over this distance at Goodwood last month. Sure to be well fancied here.
9 Expert Eye The runaway winner of a G2 over this distance at Goodwood last August. Became a big talking point then but has failed to live up to that since despite a close second in a G3 at Newbury in April. Supporters will hope he can bounce back now.
10 Headway Didn’t make an impact in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, probably outclassed and maybe also finding the 1600m too far. This highly-regarded colt had previously shown blistering late acceleration to win a 1400m all-weather Listed race at Lingfield.
11 Hemp Hemp Hurray This US invader didn’t impact in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last November but bounced back when streaking clear in a 1300m event on the all-weather at Turfway Park in March. Hard to judge his claims against the locals.
12 Lake Volta Grabbing an early lead which he never surrendered, he gained a career-best effort with an easy victory in a Listed event on soft ground at Epsom this month. In good form but with very different conditions expected and on a very different track.
13 Merlin Magic Drops down in distance from recent starts. Always travelling well, he quickened nicely to win a  strong 1600m handicap at Sandown in April, then not all disgraced in a G2 at York. May need slower ground to be at his best and this shorter trip may not be ideal.
14 Purser The winner of four of his seven starts including his last two – both over this distance at Newmarket. Latterly he led for most of the way to win a Listed event without his jockey having to get too serious. Likely to race aggressively again.
15 Society Power Has won his last five races, all narrowly so preventing his handicap rating rising too much. His short-head defeat of today’s rival Emaraaty at Goodwood last time again shows what a tough colt he is. Deserves a chance in group company.
16 St Patrick’s Day An interesting unexposed contender for Aidan O’Brien formerly trained by Californian ace Bob Baffert. He stayed on strongly to win a valuable maiden run on fast ground over 1300m at Del Mar last September. 
17 Symbolization A big, strong colt who is expected to improve with experience. He narrowly won a high grade handicap over 1600m at Newmarket  in May and was then well backed for the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh, running a respectable fifth.
18 Tabdeed From an up-and-coming stable currently in good form, he has won both starts though at a much lower level than this. Last time he quickened clear late on of a novices’ event at Nottingham. Today’s move to 1400m should suit on pedigree.
19 Tangled Twice a winner last season and effective at this distance. However this gelding has been bitterly disappointing on two starts this season and is extremely hard to fancy here.
20 Walk In The Sun Both his starts came in all-weather novices’ events over this distance earlier in the year. And he finished in front in both of them, latterly when leading from gate to wire at Lingfield. Has switched stables since.
21 Could It Be Love Her stable has a fine record in this race. Big and strong, she is only once a winner but she briefly looked like gaining a G1 victory over 1600m at The Curragh last month when establishing a clear advantage, still running an excellent second.
22 Eirene A small, tough filly who won at Listed level (1031m, soft ground) last season. A solid third in a G3 on her 2018 return over this distance at Newmarket, finishing well from the back. But disappointing here at Ascot last time.
23 Madeline From a top stable but she’ll need to improve significantly from both starts this season. She led for a lot of the way in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket but then faded right out. Held up in a Listed event subsequently, but never threatening.