14:25 Newmarket

Thursday 12 July 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Arqana July Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 1m 11.63s

(8)

Van Beethoven¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| D

11/2

Getting better with each start and landed a Group 2 at the Curragh last month. More exposed than many of his rivals and must concede weight to all but it's likely we still haven't seen the best of him and he's versatile from a tactics perspective.

Form: 31241

(6)

Advertise²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: M Meade| D

11/10

Impressive when winning on debut at Newbury when still green and ran a huge race in defeat at Royal Ascot last time behind a top prospect. A reproduction of that run should see him go close.

Form: 12

(3)

Charming Kid²¹

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

25/1

A winner at York on debut despite showing signs of his inexperience but found the step up to this class beyond him at Royal Ascot last time out. Needs to leave that run behind to have a say here and may do better with more time.

Form: 18

(5)

Dunkerron¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 88| D

20/1

Well beaten on debut but has won two novice events since, most recently in Class 3 company at York. Hard to imagine finding the required improvement to have a say at this level though.

Form: 411

(1)

Konchek²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 99

10/1

Won a maiden on debut here on the Rowley course and placed in Listed class at Sandown subsequently. Well beaten at Royal Ascot when stepped up in class last time though and no obvious excuses. Must improve.

Form: 135

(7)

Legends Of War⁵⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| D

2/1

Scat Daddy colt, cost 900,000 gns as a Breeze-up purchase. Very impressive when winning by 4L on debut at Yarmouth. Form of that race hasn't been done many favours since though but there's improvement expected here and he's not one to rule out.

Form: 1

(2)

North Wind¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien

33/1

Unplaced on each of his four starts, though he has been highly tried on his latest two outings including when finished behind his re-opposing stablemate last time out. Has a bit to prove at this level now in what could prove to be a deeper race.

Form: 3705

(4)

Sporting Chance¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: S & E Crisford| BF| D

25/1

A winner on debut at Wolverhampton and only narrowly denied at Kempton towards the end of last month. Has plenty to find up at this level though and others make more appeal.

Form: 12

Forecasts

Advertise (11/10), Legends Of War (2/1), Van Beethoven (11/2), Konchek (10/1), Dunkerron (20/1), Charming Kid (25/1), Sporting Chance (25/1), North Wind (33/1)

Aidan O'Brien has a fine record at this meeting and Van Beethoven makes plenty of appeal after his Group 2 success last time but there's a suspicion ADVERTISE could be something a bit special after his narrow defeat to Calyx at Royal Ascot last time and given he gets 3lb from his main rival, he could be hard to beat. Legends Of War was impressive at Yarmouth last time and if he can take a step forward for that run, he should be thereabouts.