Simon Holt makes Wells Farhh Go one of his bets at York on Wednesday. Check out his full preview.
Recommended bets: York, Wednesday
2pts win Poet’s Word in 3.35 York at 7/4
2pts win Wells Farhh Go in 3.00 York at 5/1
POET'S WORD, a horse who has improved with each of his racing seasons, looks primed to continue that progress and give trainer Sir Michael Stoute a second successive win in the Group One Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday.
Stoute is the leading handler in this hugely prestigious mile-and-a-quarter Group One having sent out Shardari, Ezzoud (twice), Singspiel, Notnowcato and, last year, Ulysses to score in the past.
There are plenty of similarities between the last-named and Poet’s Word; Ulysses arrived at York having shown much improved form as a four-year-old, winning the Coral-Eclipse before chasing home Enable in the King George, while Poet’s Word, a year older, has also bloomed in the build up to the Juddmonte International, winning the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and the King George on his last two starts.
Equally effective at 10 or 12 furlongs, James Doyle's mount has impressed with the way he has travelled in those last two races, beating Cracksman and his stable-companion Crystal Ocean respectively and, if in the same form here, it will take a big performance from one of the weight-receiving three-year-olds to stop him.
Of the younger generation, there seems precious little between this year's Eclipse protagonists Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior, though the latter was making a quick reappearance at Sandown having finished a close third to the re-opposing Latrobe in the Irish Derby a week earlier.
Earlier in the season, Roaring Lion had looked very impressive in the Dante over this course and distance, though probably had little to beat. Saxon Warrior had Roaring Lion back in fifth when winning the 2000 Guineas in the spring but was then behind his old rival in the Derby. It's tit for tat between the two.
Latrobe might have been a surprise winner at The Curragh but has always been highly regarded by trainer Joseph O'Brien and shouldn't be underestimated. However, it was a strong-staying performance by the son of Camelot that day and this drop in distance on a fast track asks a different question.
The other three-year-old is Without Parole who steps up in trip after disappointing in the Sussex Stakes (1m) at Goodwood where he appeared unsuited by being forced to make his own running.
The son of Frankel is very likely to stay the extra yardage but earlier victories this season, including his win in the St James's Palace Stakes, look slightly below the standard required, though he remains open to further improvement.
The Godolphin pair Benbatl and Thunder Snow, both big-race winners at Meydan back in March, probably have something to find on the balance of their turf form in Britain while the supplemented Thundering Blue has been given a shot after his Group Two course and distance win last time but which still leaves him 21lb below Poet’s Word on official ratings.
Earlier, WELLS FARHH GO is fancied to supplement his front-running win in last month's Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket and gain a third course win in the Group Two Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes, the most renowned trial for the St Leger.
Tim Easterby's tall, buoyant colt, - who has been trained very much with the final classic in mind - really enjoyed being allowed his head last time and pulled clear of his rivals at the finish to beat the useful Loxley with another five lengths back to the third Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Earlier this season, Wells Farhh Go had looked barely ready when reappearing in the Dante Stakes and then pulled too hard on the downhill run into Swinley Bottom at Royal Ascot in the King Edward V11 Stakes before staying on to take sixth behind the re-opposing Old Persian (Giuseppe Garibaldi third).
Clearly, that Newmarket win took his form to a new level and, while it would be helpful if he could relax a bit more, he looks the value here against likely market leaders Kew Gardens and Cross Counter.
Since being well beaten by Knight To Behold at Lingfield and then only ninth in the Derby, Kew Gardens has progressed well to win the Queens Vase and Grand Prix de Paris. Ryan Moore reported that he did everything right on the latter occasion and, while the form of those behind looks a bit questionable, he is certainly a leading contender and a lovely type.
So too the still lightly raced Cross Counter who made his racecourse debut only last December at Wolverhampton and has developed into a very useful performer judged on recent victories at Ascot and at Goodwood (in a weak renewal of the Gordon Stakes).
A line through the Goodwood runner-up Dee Ex Bee, who had earlier finished third in France, suggests Kew Gardens and Cross Counter could be evenly matched.
Preview posted at 1000BST on 21/08/18.
