15:25 Windsor

Saturday 29 June 2019

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

GentingBet Midsummer Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:27 | Winning time: 1m 39.47s

(1)

Arbalet^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P Cosgrave| T: H Palmer| OR: 102

20/1

Won two novice stakes but best effort when placed in a Group 3 at York last August. Has been held at this level three times since returning this season and now has something to prove.

Form: 523-564

(3)

Khafoo Shememi⁴¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Louis Steward| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 105| D

7/1

Already a dual winner at this level and a rarity in joining his current yard as an exposed individual; but he has to be respected on the pick of his efforts and doesn't have much to find after finishing third in a similar race over C&D last month.

Form: 4/43473-

(7)

Matterhorn¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 110| D

11/8

Didn't get competitive at Royal Ascot last week but this is a significant ease in grade and he is better judged on his previous efforts that have seen him win 5 times since December. A serious contender here.

Form: 171220

(6)

New Graduate¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J Tate| OR: 105| BF| D

5/2

Finished down the field in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last week but has a handicap win to his his name which reads well. More to do in this company though.

Form: 212-10

(5)

Oh This Is Us¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 111| D

9/2

Good effort when second in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom on his penultimate start but held when dropped to this grade at York last time; was second in this race last year but this looks a stronger renewal.

Form: 716223

(2)

Zhui Feng¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Nicola Currie| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 103| CD

12/1

Won this race by a length from Oh This Is Us last year but has been frustrating to follow since; poor effort in the Royal Hunt Cup did little to advertise his chances of back-to-back wins.

Form: 1807-30

(4)

Isole Canarie⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: H Crouch| T: G Hernon

50/1

Won a couple of Listed races in Italy but this is a different proposition; has a lot to find on the official ratings and is best left to her own devices.

Form: 4/899

Forecasts

Matterhorn (11/8), New Graduate (5/2), Oh This Is Us (9/2), Khafoo Shememi (7/1), Zhui Feng (12/1), Arbalet (20/1), Isole Canarie (50/1)

MATTERHORN is a typically wily character from the Mark Johnston yard; he can make the most of the drop in grade to add to an already impressive strike-rate that has seen him win 7 of his 14 previous starts. He's very capable at this level and might hold too many guns for Khafoo Shememi, who can feasibly have been freshened up by switching to Sir Michael Stoute's yard but hasn't had much time to adjust to his new trainer's regimes. Last year's winner Zhui Feng can again get the better of Oh This Is Us but has something to prove on recent efforts. New Graduate needs a step forward but would be dangerous to eliminate without checking him out in the betting.