The Pentagon is given a chance to shine in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur as Mike Cattermole previews day one of the Ebor Festival.
Sir Michael Stoute is a record six-time winner of the Juddmonte International at York and Poet’s Word has a fine chance of making it seven for the legendary Newmarket trainer on day one of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
Poet’s Word has matured into a tip-top racehorse at the age of five and comprehensively reversed last season’s form with Cracksman when storming home in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The son of Poet’s Voice returned to Ascot last month to take the King George when getting the better of his high-class stablemate Crystal Ocean, the pair pulling nine lengths clear of the good filly Coronet in third.
Poet’s Word is the complete package as he travels beautifully in his races, has a rare turn of foot and, as shown last time, is a real trier. This intermediate trip could be perfect for him.
It is great to see Thunder Snow, the Dubai World Cup winner, lining up. We perhaps don’t appreciate him as much as we should and that’s probably because that, of his last 13 starts, only two have been in this country.
Sure, his best run was on dirt but his turf form is right up there and don’t forget he chased home Churchill in last year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas.
He is obviously very good on his day as indeed is his stablemate Benbatl (rated only 1lb his inferior) who returned to form with an emphatic win in a Group One in Munich last time. This requires more, however.
The three-year-olds are led by old rivals Saxon Warrior and Roaring Lion, whose personal score stands at 2-2.
John Gosden’s colt has won the last two rubbers, beating Aidan O’Brien’s star narrowly in the Eclipse after finishing ahead of him in the Derby. However, he still tends to wander about at the business end.
Saxon Warrior had beaten the Lion in the Racing Post Trophy and the 2,000 Guineas – both over a mile - but this trip may just be ideal for Roaring Lion who didn’t quite stay when third in the Derby.
Gosden’s other runner, Without Parole was a big disappointment at Goodwood – his first defeat - but had earlier won the St James’s Palace. He has a bit to prove now in this hotter race.
Latrobe, surprise winner of the Irish Derby (Saxon Warrior third) is clearly an improver but coming back in trip is going to ask him a different question. However, a good show here and he will tumble in price for the St Leger. Expect him to be ridden positively.
Speaking of the Leger, of those lining up in the Group 2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes, all but Cross Counter, who is a gelding, hold an entry for the final Classic of the season.
Cross Counter, who has improved hugely, is preferred over Old Persian by William Buick after a career best in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood when he thrashed Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee. If that form is taken literally, he will be hard to beat but it may be that Dee Ex Bee was below his best on the quick ground.
Wells Farhh Go bounced back to form with a positive ride at Newmarket last time when taking the Bahrain Trophy and Tim Easterby has always said that his season is all about the Leger. So, with just over three weeks to go, he can be expected to go close here.
Leading the O’Brien quartet is Kew Gardens who won the Group One Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp last time and therefore has a 5lb penalty, which makes it harder for him. He has been a revelation since they adopted more patient tactics.
However, the one horse who I am sure we have not seen the best of this season is his stablemate The Pentagon who ended his two-year-old campaign with a third behind Saxon Warrior and Roaring Lion in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
Bogged down in the mud in the Ballysax, he ran well in the Derby Trial back at Leopardstown before failing to handle Epsom in the Derby.
Then, oddly, given his stout pedigree, he was dropped out in the Irish Derby before staying on powerfully into fifth place.
He is capable of much better than he has been allowed to show so far and if he is ridden more positively here, he can reward followers at a decent price (7/1 with the sponsors).
Watan, a winner at Goodwood on his debut, is trading as 2/1 favourite at the time of writing for the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes. It is surely more open than that, though.
The Richard Hannon-trained colt ought to improve now that he steps up to 7f but others have better form and I was quite taken by the course and distance winner Persian Moon when he won here under a penalty last month. He and Hot Team (a win and second since) pulled well clear.
Broome, representing Ballydoyle after winning at Galway, is well entered up as is the Charlie Hills-trained Phoenix Of Spain who travelled very impressively when winning his maiden at Wolverhampton and looked to have some scope about him.
At around 8/1, he could be the one worth supporting each-way.
The opening Sky Bet and Symphony Group Handicap looks too difficult but, that said, perhaps the lightly raced Culturati is the most interesting horse.
The Sky Bet Nursery, which closes the card, is not much easier but Dom Armado won impressively at Goodwood with several of these rivals behind him.
However, a line through Alfie Solomons means he will have his work cut out to beat the Richard Fahey-trained Eljayyef.
Mike Cattermole selections:
2.25 PHOENIX OF SPAIN (EW), 3.00 THE PENTAGON, 3.35 POET’S WORD, 4.50 ELJAYYEF
(Click on the tips for Sky Bet's live York odds)
