Cazoo Diomed Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:13 | Winning time: 1m 43.41s

(6)

Escobar^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 107

18/1

Snapped a losing run going back to 2019 when getting up close home in 7f York handicap on reappearance a fortnight ago. That required a really smart effort so he ought to be competitive back at minor pattern level.

Form: 52296-1

(4)

Finest Sound^t⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 108

12/1

Smart gelding. Ended 2021 British campaign with third in 9f Newmarket Group 3 and just as good when second in Jebel Hatta in Dubai in February. A bit more will be needed to come out on top here.

Form: 04313-2

(2)

Megallan²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 112| BF

9/2

Smart colt who bagged a Newcastle listed and Salisbury Group 3 (both 1m) last year. Good second to Master of The Seas in Earl of Sefton on Newmarket reappearance and something can't have been right when remote third at Chester since. Type to bounce back.

Form: 2015-23

(5)

Modern News²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 111

3/1

Newbury Spring Cup winner who took the step up to listed level in his stride when easily seeing off 3 rivals at Windsor (1m) last month. Going the right way and the one to beat again.

Form: 11-3711

(1)

Mutasaabeq⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 108

11/8

Back to best when winning small-field conditions event at Thirsk (7f, soft) on reappearance in April and unlucky not to follow up in Group 2 Sandown since, just failing after having to wait for a gap. Bold show likely.

Form: 7018-12

(3)

Zakouski⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 112| D

9/1

Won a Meydan Group 2 and Newmarket listed in 2021. Creditable third on Meydan reappearance in February but not in same form in Group 1 Jebel Hatta there in first-time cheekpieces (discarded now) 3 weeks later.

Form: 2119-30

Forecasts

Mutasaabeq (11/8), Modern News (3/1), Megallan (9/2), Zakouski (9/1), Finest Sound (12/1), Escobar (18/1)

A good renewal of this Group 3. MODERN NEWS is a 4-y-o who is heading in the right direction and can add to his Spring Cup and Windsor listed wins in recent months. Mutasaabeq looked unlucky not to win the Group 2 Sandown Mile last time and he can provide the chief threat ahead of Megallan.