Nafaqa gets his chance to become a live Epsom Derby prospect today!
One of eight decs for the �100000 group two Dante Stakes, over an extended ten furlongs of good ground York, this consistent Sir Percy colt has achieved by far the actual best time-figure and races on a wonderful left-handed track which represents the definitive front-running course; will jockey Paul Hanagan be granted license to exploit the stamina which trainer Barry Hills is convinced he possesses?
Given at least four have no chance whatsoever they will surely decide to sort out the wheat from the chaff; incidentally that's the way owner Hamdan al Maktoum likes his horses to be ridden, positively.
Form of Nafaqa bears close inspection; though Elm Park came out better at Newmarket last October I'm convinced there are good reasons to believe placings can be reversed; the others which rate consideration are Jack Hobbs and Golden Horn, trained by John Gosden.
Jack Hobbs won a handicap unchallenged at Sandown last month off a mark of 85.
Subsequently Jack was raised 24 pounds which must have been a panic measure because the time-handicap mark was at least 10lbs inferior to that of Nafaqa when he scored so impressively at Doncaster last season; he's trained on, second in the Craven is proof positive.
In summary Nafaqa has solid graded form, should act on this surface, is ideally suited by the distance and faces vulnerable opposition, if allowed to set a strong pace in the way Roberto did when beating Brigadier Gerard over this course and distance 43 years ago.
I'll bet Barry can remember that, Arc winner, Rheingold, was behind!
Newmarket stages a seven-race evening programme which kicks off with a Maiden auction Stakes over six furlongs and a chance for Sparky Jack to make it third time lucky.
This-type race appeals, often they are little more than selling grade with a clutch of cheapies in opposition; Sparky Jack might just prove a cut above and Hundi will surely take Charles Hills off the dreaded 'cold list' in the Maiden Fillies' Stakes over seven furlongs.
Hundi has any amount in hand and though trusting three-year-old fillies is a pathway to a poor house don't oppose; if she doesn't win this time...!
SELECTIONS
?3.15 YORK, NAFAQA (e.w.)
5.15 SPARKY JACK (e.w.)
7.25 HUNDI (e.w.)