There's a cracking field for this year's Gordon Richards, which may fall to ALMAQAM who ended last season hitting a new high at 1m2f and looks a promising 4yo for this season. See The Fire is feared most on the strength of her Group 1 performances last term and the success of her stable this spring, but there is serious quality in the rest of the field as well. It will be interesting to gauge the confidence behind Ancient Wisdom (the mount of William Buick) following his flop at Newbury, as Charlie Appleby also fields last year's impressive Classic Trial winner Arabian Crown.[Richard Austen]
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Mixed form last autumn in Australia but 2-2 for his new stable after a 1m2f Listed event at Lingfield on New Year's Eve and 1m3f Group 3 Winter Derby at Southwell two months ago; unraced on firmer than good and the 3lb penalty may require a career-best if some of today's rivals return on song.
Six Group 3 wins (1m2f-1m5f) in total, including last August at Glorious Goodwood and Newbury; first run on heavy ground when well below form on final outing; big chance on best of his 2024 form but he was not at that level first time out in the last two seasons.
Started 2024 with two wins, latterly in a Listed race here; probably does not need testing ground, although it was soft again when he went close in 1m2f Group 2 at Longchamp in October; major player on that and, after just six races, he looks set for further improvement this term.
Failed to achieve the same success last year that he had as a 2yo but still made all in a Group 3 at Newmarket (1m5f) in July and good third in a German Group 1 (1m4f) in November; ran poorly on reappearance at Newbury 13 days ago, with the ground (good, good to firm in places) possibly to blame but he needs to put that way behind him; drops back in trip.
Won his last three races as a 2yo and took the Classic Trial in good style on this card (1m2f, good to soft) on reappearance last year; made all for the last two of those wins; all looked bright at that stage but he was not seen again until below form, never dangerous, in Group 2 at Meydan (1m4f, good; should stay) eight weeks ago; could build on that and is not dismissed even though he seems the stable second string to Ancient Wisdom.
Won a maiden and two handicaps on varied ground in May/June 2023 and, on second run after a long layoff, he was beaten a nose in Listed race at Newmarket (1m2f, soft) in November on penultimate start; might still be capable of better but he needs to be.
Group 3 win at York (1m1f) last August; beaten a neck in the Nassau at Goodwood (1m2f) the time before and also ran well when beaten 3l in further Group 1 assignments at Newmarket (1m) and Ascot (1m2f) on final two outings; big chance if she returns in that form.
1/4 Odds Place 1,2
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