15:00 Newmarket

Saturday 28 September 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:45

Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 12.29s

(1)

Black Forza²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 105| D

12/1

Landed a Fairyhouse maiden before improving further to bag the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood in early August. Trip to the USA didn't bear fruit (excusable run at Kentucky Downs) but likely to be back on his game.

Form: 5114

(2)

Dash Dizzy²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: C Johnston| D

40/1

Confirmed debut promise when comfortably off the mark in a novice at Kempton last time but has more than likely been pitched in too deep here.

Form: 31

(3)

Defence Minister²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 90| D

7/1

€210,000 breeze-up purchase who made it 2-2 when quickening to see off a couple of promising sorts at Haydock (6f, good) 23 days ago. Definitely more to come and would be dangerous to completely dismiss him.

Form: 11

(4)

Jouncy^v²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 99| D

22/1

Strong at the finish when opening account at Goodwood in July. Visored and back on track when second to Symbol of Strength in Sirenia Stakes at Kempton 3 weeks ago but improvement needed if he's to trouble some of these rivals.

Form: 62172

(7)

Shadow Of Light³⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 108| D

11/4

Progressive, winning maiden/novice events on first 2 starts before going down by only ¾ length to Cool Hoof Luke in Gimcrack at York (6f, good to firm) 5 weeks ago. More to come and he's a definite player.

Form: 112

(5)

Whistlejacket⁴¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 115| D

4/5

Dominant display when winning 6-runner July Stakes at Newmarket (6f, good to soft, 11/10) and back to winning ways with another gutsy display in the Prix Morny at Deauville last month. Significant that Ryan Moore prefers him, so he's the one to beat.

Form: 214121

Non-Runners

(8)

Ides Of March²⁸

Weight: 9-2| Age: 2

T: A P O'Brien J: S M Levey

(6)

Intrusively¹⁶

Weight: 9-2| Age: 2

T: E Bethell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Whistlejacket (4/5), Shadow Of Light (11/4), Ides Of March (3/1), Defence Minister (7/1), Black Forza (12/1), Jouncy (22/1), Intrusively (33/1), Dash Dizzy (40/1)

Aidan O'Brien looks to have a strong handle on this race again and the tough WHISTLEJACKET is a strong candidate to make all at the likely expense of stablemate Ides of March, who was most impressive in the Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh last time. Shadow of Light hasn't finished improving, so he's the clear pick of the British-trained contingent.