St James´s Palace Stakes (Group 1)

Nulty · 15-06-2010 12:20am #1

St James´s Palace Stakes (Group 1) (Entire Colts) (CLASS 1) (3yo) Winner £141,925BBC2
Good 1m Number of runners: 9

Card
Betting

(Draw) Horse
(4) Beethoven
(6) Canford Cliffs
(1) Dick Turpin
(8) Encompassing
(2) Hearts of Fire
(5) Makfi
(9) Nobles Promise
(3) Siyouni
(7) Steinbeck

This race is probably the most interesting of the whole festival, at least for me it is. I coouldn't have a bet because its just so confusing...

Beethoven actually hasn't run over a mile before. This will be his first start of the campaign but his 12th career start. He looks exposed but his win in the Dewhurst last year made everyone step back and wonder where that performance came from. Blinkers were the obvious reason and its thought that he just wasn't concentrating in his races. He ran well enough without medication at Santa Anita last year and could suprise a few people again this year. The majority of his form obviously doesn't represent what he's actually capable of. Very interesting.

Canford Cliffs won the Irish 2,000 Guineas with apparent ease after questions over his stamina despite the insistance of his yard. He is very short in the market but has the exceptional form of a 6l win here at Ascot in last years Coventry. He seems to be a little difficult to get right but his class is there for all to see, it is just a question of whether the best of him will be shown on the race course. Like all these horse he's still learning but seemed to get the hang of it at the Curragh.

Dick Tupin placed in two guineas but looks to give absolutely everything in those races and just come up short. Having had such tough races he might be excused for being a little tired. He beat Canford Cliffs both times this year but as these are three year olds its hard to be confident of the form. If he's fit enough he will give a bold showing but whether or not he has the class of the others is debatable. What ever the case he is entitled to win this and takes his chance after toying with a run in G3 company oddly enough.

Encompassing is another from Ballydoyle and looks thoroughly exposed. He looks to be the pacemaker in the race but what use that will be is questionable with proven front runner Dick Turpin in there. Perhaps its a ploy to keep Dick Turpin from having an easy lead. Encompassing will keep him company and probably shouldn't be written off with O'Briens suprising front runner finishing positions. 100/1 would normally tell its own story but the thing is that he's not any longer.

Hearts of Fire won the Italian Gran Criterium on his last start as a two year old. He disappointed at Newmarket and the ride is taken by Jimmy Fortune for the first time. He's entitled to show hes better than the finishing position at Newmarket and despite his many runs last year, could have much more to show. the penny dropped last year winning his final 3 starts (listed - G3 - G1) and hasn't been put in here for fun. With many question still to be answered by all these horses, Hearts of fire is another intriguing runner who could be anything at this stage. He wears a tongue strap for the first time.

Makfi, winner of all three career starts including an impressive success at Newmarket is 2nd in the betting. It's quite clear that he is a special horse and regally bred. It will be no suprise if the undefeated colt has too much for the others who have had excuses made for them each time they've failed. It certainly looks the safest option if your thinking of having a bet. He has (obviously) beaten all the horses in this field that hes raced and on form alone looks the most likely winner.

Noble's Promise is an American raider from the Kenny McPeek stablee. His only G1 win came at the back end of last year and the form has been left in the pits by the runners up who have disappointed. US horses are normally competitive but tend to find it difficult coming off medication and racing. Fallon is booked and but this one looks to have it all to prove against one of the most competitive fields in the St James Palace in some time.

Siyouni has exceptional form from his two year old campaign. He can be forgiven the run on his debut this season as he got no run in the French Guineas. In the French Gran Criterium he had the beating of Beethoven, Dick Turpin, Lope de Vega (French dual classic winner) and Pounced (Breeders cup Juvinile winner). A return to that form will see him very competitive. Support for him in the market lately is another plus though his jockey has won only 1/26 at Ascot (4%)

Steinbeck is Bally doyle chief contender. He was widely hailed last season though found it difficult to stay fit. He's only had 3 starts...two of them after long lay offs and this should be his first consecutive start in his career. He is likely to be his sires best progeny thus far if he can improve with a clear run at the year. There is no real form to go on due to the stop start nature of his career so far and he could show himself to be the best in this field, or one who consistently has excuses made for him. He is another very interesting runner and another reason I wont be having a bet in this.

Really looking forward to this...race of the week IMO.