_edited.png)
15:20 Yarmouth
Ville De Grace won this race by three lengths last year and followed up with a Group 3 victory at Newmarket a month later, before missing out on a Group 2 victory by a nose on return in May. The winner of that race has since won two Group 1 races so the form is solid and I’m expecting Sir Michael Stoute’s runner to be tough to beat despite being 8lbs higher in the weights this time around.
Miss En Scene was a Group 3 winner last season but hasn’t quite managed to put it all together so far this season, finishing down the field in the Irish 1000 Guineas on return and only managing a sixth placed finish last time out. She will need to improve on what we’ve seen so far this season but the step up in trip could help to eke out that little extra so she warrants plenty of respect.
Queen Of The Skies takes a big step up in Grade but looks to be progressing well and given her trainer has won three of the last six renewals a big run could be on the cards.
VILLE DE GRACE (WIN)
15:35 Sandown
Bayside Boy hasn’t managed to get his head in front since winning a Group 2 twelve months ago, however placed in two Group 1’s towards the back end of last season and has also raced well in some tough races this season too - the highlight being when finishing just two lengths behind Coroebus in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Today sees a marked step down in grade, the application of first time blinkers and in-form jockey William Buick taking over in the saddle. The combination of all three should be enough to see him return to the winners’ enclosure today.
Sinjaari won over course and distance here in July and also ran well in a Group 3 when last seen so looks to be the most likely to challenge our selection, although a mention should also go to Escobar who doesn’t win too many races (just one win in the last three years) but usually gives a good account of himself so cannot be completely dismissed.
BAYSIDE BOY (WIN)
written by Dean Kilbryde