SportPesa Stand Cup Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 2m 38.0s

(5)

Ben Vrackie²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 106| D

2/1

Best effort when narrowly denied by Baghdad in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot on his return before a poor effort at Newmarket. Left that behind when seventh in the Ebor. Both those two runs suggested a drop back to 1m4f would suit.

Form: 033-207

(1)

Sextant²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Louis Steward| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 103| D

7/2

Progressive handicapper won three from his first four including a good Ascot contest over this trip, with a bit in hand in July. His latest run in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes shouldn't be underestimated as he failed to see out 1m5,5f on soft.

Form: 2-14114

(2)

Grace And Danger²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: D Fentiman| T: A M Balding| OR: 102

8/1

Tried in three Listed contests this year since sole 2018 start when winning a Nottingham maiden. Best effort by far when second at Windsor over 1m3.5f last time. May have more to offer up in distance and seems to handle any surface.

Form: 1-482

(3)

Manuela De Vega²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 103

5/4

Won both starts as a juvenile including a Listed event at Pontefract. Has been highly tried in top company with a best fourth in the Epsom Oaks closely followed by a second in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry. Racing consistently and an obvious hope.

Form: 1-24523

Non-Runners

(4)

Durston²⁸

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: D M Simcock J: J P Spencer

Forecasts

Manuela De Vega (5/4), Ben Vrackie (2/1), Sextant (7/2), Durston (4/1), Grace And Danger (8/1)

It's tough to separate these five runners in a good renewal. Older runners have held sway more often than not in recent years although it's hard to get away from the Classic and consistent form of the classy Manuela De Vega. Narrow preference though is for BEN VRACKIE who has fared well in leading handicaps this year with the step back to this distance very much in his favour. He looks well suited by these terms while Sextant is another who will be suited by a sharper test and he was very much on the up before not staying last time. He may look to get the lead and is closely matched with the also improving Durston.and lightly racedGrace And Danger.