Swinburn’s Staying On to bloom in wide open Rose of Lancaster Stakes
WALTER SWINBURN has his team in great heart at present and his four-year-old gelding STAYING ON can go very close in Haydock’s feature contest tomorrow. The son of Invincible Spirit was beaten by only two lengths by Famous Name in a Group Three at the Curragh last time and before that had finished sixth in a blanket finish for the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown.
However, it is the form of his two previous runs which suggest to me that he’ll play a leading role in the finish here. Firstly, he began the current campaign with a comprehensive win in the Doncaster Mile. He was then beaten in a head bobber by Doctor Fremantle at Chester in the Group Three Huxley Stakes in May. A repetition of either of those displays would see him go close at a track where he recorded his last victory.
John Gosden’s Duncan is definitely respected but has to bounce back from a disappointing display at Newmarket’s July meeting. He pulled hard that day and if he can settle better tomorrow, he’ll
pose a serious threat. Godolphin’s Campanologist was another who flopped in the same Newmarket contest and will certainly be better suited by this trip. Yet, at the prices, I’d far rather support Staying On as he looks far more likely to run his race than either of those two.
Elsewhere on Haydock’s card tomorrow and I cannot resist having a few quid on Sir Michael Stoute’s DANCOURT in the Heritage Handicap at 3.15pm. The three-year-old gelding looks ultra progressive and created a really good impression when scooting clear of a decent field over this trip at Sandown last time. Admittedly, he is taking on some very useful seasoned handicappers, but with only 8st 2lbs in the saddle, he has to be in the shake-up.
Newmarket’s feature is the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes which was won last year by Rainbow View. All eyes (and money) will be on Godolphin’s new recruit Long Lashes, but I’m keen to take her on at the prices. Barry Hills saddles SENT FROM HEAVEN who won an ordinary looking Kempton maiden on her debut last month. However, we saw with Ghanaati that Hills is not afraid to start the good ones off at a low level.
It’s Shergar Cup Day at Ascot and the only bet I’ll be having will be on Mark Johnston’s DUBAI’S TOUCH in the mile at 2.20pm. He was given a graveyard draw at Goodwood last week and showed when winning over course and distance the time before that he is up to winning this. Paul Cole’s Moynahan was unlucky at Goodwood and is the one for forecast backers.
Finally, if you cannot wait until tomorrow, it may pay to have a few quid on Henry Cecil’s NATIVE RULER at Newmarket tonight. He is far better than he showed at Royal Ascot last time and is more than capable of taking a race like this if he has learnt to settle. He has been working well and was originally considered a possible Derby horse.