Kismet Hardy and Soldier In Action come out clear best-in on my time-handicap for the seven-runner nursery over a mile of Chelmsford polytrack today, preference is for the former.
At issue is the actual time-figure; Kismet Hardy improved considerably when successfully dropped back to seven furlongs at Salisbury on his third run last month. Previous effort was nine furlongs, a colossal distance for a juvenile.
At this stage Kismet Hardy, given six weeks recovery time, should have matured sufficiently and might just have the edge over Soldier In Action, a typical, redoubtable, staying type trained by Mark Johnston.
Expect Soldier to make the running (again!) in an attempt to burn off opposition; we anticipate he'll be a sitting duck for the speedier Kismet Hardy, mount of Sean Levey, now number one jockey for Richard Hannon.
Should be fascinating and thirty-five minutes later trainer Dean Ivory will be disappointed if Fighting Temeraire doesn't follow up an impressive, unchallenged, six furlongs Windsor victory in the nursery over seven furlongs.
Ivory, trainer of Tropics, obviously knows a graded prospect when he sees one and anticipates a bright future with thrice-raced Fighting Temeraire.
Earlier John Gosden-trained Signed Sealed looks just that in the aged Maiden Stakes over ten furlongs; just a question of replicating his last time out TH effort.
Big John is enjoying a tremendous year and our imperious champion trainer is showing no sign(s) of easing up; punters are enjoying a bonanza backing his runners.