15:10 Newbury

Saturday 21 April 2018

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 1m 26.98s

(7)

Cold Stare¹⁹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Harley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

33/1

Well-related Intense Focus gelding, was a Listed winner in France before coming up short in Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood (7f, good) last summer. Has joined David O'Meara over the winter, asking a lot here seemingly.

Form: 1198-

(1)

Connect¹⁸⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 91| D

10/1

Front-running sort, shaped nicely in three Sandown runs last summer, winning novice stakes over this trip before finding Group 3 Solario Stakes too hot. Listed winner over 1m (soft) at Pontefract on final start. Must improve.

Form: 4161-

(8)

Expert Eye¹⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 117| BF| CD

7/4

Produced probably the most impressive performance by a juvenile last season when landing the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. Much too keen in the Dewhurst (7f, good) at Newmarket when last spotted. Must win this to aid Classic pretensions.

Form: 119-

(2)

Fighting Irish¹⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C Demuro| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 104

16/1

Camelot colt improving all the time in juvenile campaign, culminating in 6f soft-ground Group 2 win in France on final start in October. Facing his toughest ask yet on return.

Form: 451411-

(3)

Hey Gaman²¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: J Tate| OR: 111| CD

3/1

Likes to dominate from the front, as shown to excellent effect when winning Listed contest here in August (7f, soft). Just touched off in Doncaster Group 2 on final start. May not get things all his own way here.

Form: 910112-

(4)

James Garfield¹⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: George Scott| OR: 112| C

3/1

Progressive last season, culminating in smart turn of foot to win the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes (6f, good) here in September. Didn't perform in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf when last spotted, but can be forgiven that run.

Form: 314210-

(5)

Raid^h1¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D M Simcock

12/1

Havana Gold colt cost 22,000 gns yearling, before fetching £135,000 when picked up by these leading connections as a two-year-old. Won Doncaster maiden (6f, soft) on sole start to date. Hood on now.

Form: 1-

Non-Runners

(6)

Arrogant²²

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: J Santos J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Expert Eye (7/4), James Garfield (3/1), Hey Gaman (3/1), Connect (10/1), Raid (12/1), Fighting Irish (16/1), Cold Stare (33/1), Arrogant (66/1)

The front-running Hey Gaman isn't one to dismiss quickly but he may prove vulnerable to some potentially classy finishers in this line-up. On the face of it, this revolves around EXPERT EYE, who proved much too strong for James Garfield when they met at Goodwood in the Vintage Stakes before blowing his chance in the Dewhurst before things got serious. He can put that disappointment behind him and remains a potentially high-class performer. Raid is an interesting runner on the back of winning a Doncaster maiden on his only outing to date.