Great St Wilfrid will see Louis conquer

SATURDAY has come already and I'll be hoping to keep this show on the road and get another winner on the board to support the runaway success of Kalk Bay from midweek.

There is an excellent selection of racing to sink our teeth into including a fascinating renewal of the Hungerford Stakes and Ripon Racecourses highlight of the year the Great St Wilfrid doesn't look half bad either!

2.30 Geoffrey Freer Stakes

Supporting an excellent renewal of the Hungerford is a select looking field in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes. Mount Athos looks a horse not to be against here, he has looked an improved horse this season since joining Luca Cumani and could not have been more impressive on his two appearances this season. Last time out he travelled strongly behind the field right into the final two and when pulled out he quickened instantly and heading into the final furlong drew clear of the field effortlessly and was eased down towards the line. He looked different class simply and looked the perennial group horse in handicaps and if he continues on this upward curve he is on he is going to be serious opposition in this contest.

3.05 Hungerford Stakes

The Hungerford looks a cracker of a race for a group two and a real conundrum to unravel, I am going to put my head on the chopping block though and stick with a horse that has been a real earner for me and that is Strong Suit. He has not exactly made a great return to the track but there is fair grounds to forgive both of those runs, last time out he was asked to race under appalling conditions which just did not suit and previous to that on his re-appearance he had the hopeless task of taking on Frankel, he was never up to his best but he ran desperately like he needed that run. It's best remembering him for his performances such as in a group two at Newmarket last year when annihilating Chachamaidee four lengths eased down to see the real class of him, that kind of brilliance is what can win him this race and what tells you he is still capable of landing a group one down the line. Racing at seven furlongs is a big bonus for him also, it's a real specialist distance and he has put away his last three races over the distance and only suffered defeat in the Greenham to Frankel when not sound. You have to take a chance he is going to bounce back but I did so in The Jersey stakes last year and that paid of handsomely so I hope he will oblige here also in a tricky looking contest.

3.30 Great St Wilfrid Stakes

The Great St Wilfrid is always a race pencilled into the diary and this year's renewal has attracted all the usual suspects including previous winners such as last year's winner Pepper Lane and further down the line if they get a run, Damika and Tajneed. My intentions are to look to the younger of the field however and that comes in the shape of Louis The Pious. He come right back to his best in the Stewards Stakes last time out when beaten by Johannes, the pair of them managed to pull excellently clear of the field that day and though he has to meet that rival again I think he can build from that run now which is less likely for his conqueror. Important to note is he looks heavily ground dependent and has failed to get conditions in his favor enough times this season to be seen regularly at his best, with forecast good to firm ground and at six furlongs he looks to have everything in his favor and there is every chance he could just improve again.

3.40 Ladies Day Handicap

Another horse for this column that Ryan Moore finds himself on board, which I must add is a coincidence, is Jacob Cats. He has been a good improver for the Hannon yard this year and I think with this drop back to seven furlongs we could see him back to winning ways and continuing the progress he has shown this year. They went a sound pace last time out at Goodwood and he travelled very strongly amongst mid division deep into the final two but when asked for his effort, though keeping on ok into fourth, I did not think he saw out the race well enough and they just managed to draw the sting out his turn of foot he has shown in his previous two victories. On both those occasions he has shown an abundance of speed travelling well and being produced late to quicken passed runners and this drop to seven furlong a real speed specialist trip could see him at his best. He is progressive and what is shaping up as an ordinary looking field he has a very strong chance of getting back to winning ways.

Selections Summary
Saturday, August 18:
2.30 – Mount Athos (nb)
3.05 – Strong Suit
3.30 – Louis The Pious (ew)
3.40 – Jacob Cats (nap)