Two-Year-Old Guide author Dan Briden previews the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.<\/p>\n
The defection of strong ante-post favourite Albert Einstein has blown the Coventry Stakes wide open. It is difficult to rule many out, which tends to point to it being a far from strong renewal albeit that\u2019s obviously something we won\u2019t know for a while yet.<\/p>\n
Postmodern<\/strong> understandably heads the betting having posted the most visually impressive performance of the novice\/maiden winners, setting a strong pace and maintaining it readily without Jamie Spencer having to get overly busy in the saddle. Such tactics here up in grade won\u2019t be so easy to pull off – not that he will need to, of course. Full of potential but priced accordingly.<\/p>\n Aidan O\u2019Brien fields a pair of once-raced winners in the shape of Gstaad<\/strong> and Warsaw<\/strong>. Both impressed with their finishing efforts on debut, with Gstaad (a half-brother to Vandeek, incidentally) forced to switch before leading close home at Navan. <\/p>\n Warsaw was claimer-ridden and seemingly unfancied when quickening smartly to score at the same track just 10 days ago. He boasts an excellent pedigree, being a Wootton Bassett first foal of an unraced sister to the likes of Oaks winner Forever Together and Fillies\u2019 Mile winner Together Forever (later dam of City of Troy). The stiff six furlongs here ought to suit the pair.<\/p>\n The best form on offer comes from Marble Hill second and third Power Blue<\/strong> and Andab. The former is making his fourth start here run having won on the opening day of the season (as had stablemate Bucanero Fuerte when third two years ago, albeit hadn\u2019t run in the meantime).<\/p>\n However, ANDAB<\/strong> had reportedly suffered an interrupted preparation before the Marble Hill, so that he more than held his own until the final 75 yards against Power Blue and the potentially smart Albert Einstein is to his credit. <\/p>\n The impression he created in making a winning start at the Curragh is not to be forgotten, either. Odds of 8\/1 suggested it came as something of a surprise, while he comes from a good family that rarely hit the target first time out.<\/p>\n With that Marble Hill run behind him and a smoother prep coming into this, he makes plenty of appeal as he bids to keep up the family tradition of Royal Ascot success given his grandmother is the 2001 King\u2019s Stand Stakes winner Cassandra Go.<\/p>\n David Marnane\u2019s Gavoo<\/strong> shouldn\u2019t be forgotten at a big price. He was four-and-three-quarter lengths behind Andab on debut at the Curragh but went one better in good style at Listowel next time. That may not sound like a likely preparation for a future Ascot winner, but he overcame a difficult draw and came with a withering late run to get the job done. The runner-up had got first run on Gavoo, with pair pulling a long way clear of the remainder. He isn\u2019t to be underestimated here.<\/p>\n Paul and Oliver Cole\u2019s American Gulf<\/strong> impressed when making a start at Windsor a couple of weeks ago, well-backed to do so although market rival Blue Orbit bolted to the start and had to be withdrawn, making life slightly easier. There was a time when Cole snr would have been feared by all in a race of this nature, but it also shouldn\u2019t be forgotten that connections had the third in this in 2022 via Royal Scotsman. Incidentally, he provided dam Mamma Morton with her 13th winner from her 14th foal when scoring at Windsor. <\/p>\n Charlie Appleby\u2019s Military Code<\/strong> made a winning start at the expense of subsequent winner Moonfall at Newmarket\u2019s Craven meeting before following up in a novice event here next time. His professionalism and superior experience counted for plenty that day, but he still accounted for next-time-out scorers Fitzella and Old Is Gold. A sixth furlong will also suit here.<\/p>\n Archie Watson took the 2022 renewal of this race with Bradsell and supplied the second in the past two renewals. He is triple-handed this time around with comfortably Lingfield winner Shaatir and thrice-raced Tadej arriving here off the back of a gritty success at York.<\/p>\n However, the one of his trio with most potential is Wathnan Racing\u2019s Underwriter<\/strong>. He follows a similar passage taken by Watson\u2019s aforementioned winner and two runners-up, coming into this off a winning debut and doing so at Ayr, which was the same course both Army Ethos and Electrolyte used as a launchpad into this race.<\/p>\n He showed a good turn of foot to justify odds of 11\/10 and is looks significant he has been saved for this race, but the form of that debut win doesn\u2019t look particularly hot as things stand.<\/p>\n Brian Meehan\u2019s Bourbon Blues<\/strong> dismissed a middling field in a six furlongs restricted maiden at Brighton, doing his bit for the form of tmaiden at Newbury won by Humidity. Rashabar\u2019s shock success 12 months ago will see him be of interest.<\/p>\n Another who comes from \u2018that\u2019 maiden at Newbury is Ed Walker\u2019s Do Or Do Not<\/strong>. He stepped up significantly when finding only the aforementioned and re-opposing Tadej too good at York next time. However, he travelled like the best horse in that race, looking ungainly off the bridle once seeing the front and rather handing the advantage back to Tadej. <\/p>\n Time will tell whether it was inexperience or something else with regards the way he carried himself that day, but the mere fact a trainer such as Walker is willing to have a crack at this race is significant.<\/p>\n Finally, the other horse I like at a price is Kevin Ryan\u2019s ROCK ON THUNDER<\/strong>. He was sent off a solid 4\/1 chance for a traditionally-useful six furlong maiden at Leicester at the end of May, racing on the wing but travelling powerfully and making a striking move into contention. He then found plenty to fend off the highly-regarded George Boughey breezer Hey Tru Blue, asserting readily to score by a length-and-a-quarter..<\/p>\n The third and fifth have already won since and there was plenty of potential further back in the field too. This obviously represents a much sterner examination of his credentials, but his smart pedigree suggests the better ground here will suit. A well-run six furlongs also should play to his strengths given the ease with which he travelled on debut, and it wouldn\u2019t at all surprise to see Rock On Thunder take a hand at the business end of matters.<\/p>\n More from Sporting LifeSafer gambling<\/p>\n We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.<\/p>\n If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline \/ GamCare<\/a><\/strong> on 0808 8020 133.<\/p>\n Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org<\/a><\/strong> and gamblingtherapy.org<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Two-Year-Old Guide author Dan Briden previews the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. 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