14:25 Newmarket

Thursday 13 July 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

Arqana July Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:28 | Winning time: 1m 11.75s

(12)

Rajasinghe²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: S Donohoe| T: R Spencer| OR: 108| D

10/3

Choisir colt, cost €65,000 as a foal and £85,000 as a yearling. Two wins from two starts so far in his career, improving to win the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last time having won easily at Newcastle on debut. The Ascot run is the best form on offer here and didn't have everything go his way that day (no clear run at the 2f pole); he'll be hard to beat despite the fact he is forced to carry a penalty.

Form: 11

(7)

Alba Power¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| D

33/1

Well beaten on debut but showed a game attitude to beat a couple of better fancied rivals at Yarmouth in a four-runner contest last time out. Should go well again but big step forward needed to take this contest.

Form: 61

(3)

Cardsharp²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101

8/1

Finished an excellent runner-up at Epsom at the Derby meeting and went one better at Beverley next time. Seemingly drawn on the wrong side at Royal Ascot last time but ran well to finish third and solid each-way claims once again with more improvement possible and the step back up in trip likely to suit.

Form: 14213

(4)

Denaar²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: R Hannon| OR: 95| D

14/1

Won each of his first two starts, well-backed on each occasion but well beaten in the Coventry Stakes last time and has a fair amount of improvement to find if he's to turn that piece of form around. Looks like another who will try and make the running but may find softer conditions to his liking here.

Form: 110

(9)

Enjazaat³⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| D

14/1

Beaten out of sight on debut but improved for that run and won at Yarmouth on second start with a minimum amount of fuss. Form of that contest wouldn't appear to be anything special and likely to find life a lot tougher in this company.

Form: 01

(2)

Grand Koonta¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 83| D

16/1

Justified favouritism at Windsor last time out and seemingly progressing with each start but giant step forward needed to land a blow in this contest. Yard's juveniles have been flying so far this year but seems unlikely this colt has enough progress in him to take this contest.

Form: 421

(6)

Hey Gaman⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: M Harley| T: J Tate| OR: 89| D

10/1

Smart run at Leicester on debut and while he couldn't back that up in a Listed contest at Royal Ascot, he gained compensation with an easy win at Yarmouth last time. Yard couldn't be in better form in recent weeks and trainer does well with progressive sorts; every chance he can be in the shake-up here.

Form: 291

(11)

Invincible Army²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: J Tate| CD

3/1

Only narrowly touched off on debut and went one better over C&D here last time. Smooth travelling type who couldn't have won any easier there and the fourth has already come out and franked that form. Quite possibly the stronger of the two runners the trainer has in the field and proven on this course so plenty to like.

Form: 21

(1)

It Dont Come Easy²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 96

20/1

Winner on his second start at Musselburgh after some promise on debut at York. Respectable fifth of 17 at Royal Ascot but has work to do to turn the form around with Cardsharp from that effort. Shapes like the step up to 6f may help so not ruled out.

Form: 415

(10)

Roland Rocks^p1¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: G Mosse| T: J Ryan

66/1

20/1 winner on debut at Musselburgh but couldn't follow that up here towards the end of last month and question marks about how well he handled the track. Jockey rides this course well and first-time cheekpieces need to see his mount leave his latest effort well behind.

Form: 13

(5)

Sound And Silence^p²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 104

7/1

Markedly improved from second to third start at Royal Ascot last time when he pulled clear with stablemate Roussel, holding on gamely. Runner-up franked the form with a fair effort at Sandown last week. Form looks solid enough and should be thereabouts.

Form: 141

(8)

U S Navy Flag^b,t¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| D

10/1

Improved for the drop in class back down into maiden company after a disappointing effort at Royal Ascot. Won that race comfortably but looks set to struggle back up in class.

Form: 43301

Forecasts

Invincible Army (3/1), Rajasinghe (10/3), Sound And Silence (7/1), Cardsharp (8/1), U S Navy Flag (10/1), Hey Gaman (10/1), Enjazaat (14/1), Denaar (14/1), Grand Koonta (16/1), It Dont Come Easy (20/1), Alba Power (33/1), Roland Rocks (66/1)

RAJASINGHE will be hard to beat as he aims to maintain his 100% win record and make it three wins from three starts. His effort at Royal Ascot sets him apart from this field and the 3lb penatly he's forced to carry shouldn't prove too much of a burden. Cardsharp will enjoy the step back up in trip after he was drawn on the wrong side in his Ascot race last time while Sound And Silence holds solid each-way claims after winning a race at the Royal meeting himself. James Tate has both Hey Gaman and Invincible Army in the contest with a slight preference for the latter after winning easily over C&D last time out.