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13:50 Newbury
Tactical won the Group 2 July Stakes last summer and returned this season with a victory over seven furlongs in a Listed race at Newmarket last month. The Queen's horse is the highest rated in the field and would probably be the form pick, however needed that extra furlong to get up for victory when last seen and has been best seen on fast ground so with this in mind and the drop back to six furlongs not ideal I have to look elsewhere.
Creative Force is a true six furlong horse having won three from four over the trip, however has done all his winning at Newmarket on good-to-firm ground and his only defeat to date came on ground with a bit of give. He arrives here in top form and will no doubt be winning more races this season, however I fear he won't be seen to best effect on the ground today.
With the ground listed as good-to-soft, soft in places and the possibility of further rain pre-race I am siding with Happy Romance who has won three from four over the trip, has winning course form and beat subsequent Group 1 winner Alcohol Free on good-to-soft ground last season. All told has won five races with three coming where there has been soft somewhere in the description, and as an added bonus gets 3lbs from early favourite Tactical so to me looks to have a lot in his favour.
HAPPY ROMANCE (WIN)
written by Dean Kilbryde