A PACEMAKER, so badly missed in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, might hold the key to Thursday's feature race as the July Meeting gets under way at Newmarket.
The Group 2 Princess of Wales's Close Brothers Stakes is the main event, and without doubt the best horse in the race is the Charlie Appleby-trained Yibir, who will be ridden by William Buick.
Yibir is an extremely talented slug, having taken the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar last November and finished second to Shahryar in the Sheema Classic in Dubai in March.
Since then, though, Yibir has been beaten in tactical affairs both at Newmarket – when defeated by the re-opposing Living Legend – and in the Man O'War Stakes at Belmont Park.
Today it appears Appleby is taking no chances on a lack of pace in a small field, as he has also declared the decent but ouclassed Global Storm, who is the mount of James Doyle.
It's impossible not to believe that Global Storm is there to make sure there is a strong pace, and that means Yibir has a great chance of returning to his best and turning over likely favourite Mostahdaf, who chased home Broome in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Living Legend is owned by terrific people in Barbara and Alick Richmond but since his defeat of Yibir – much better off at the weights – he has finished last at both Epsom and Ascot and while this is much easier than the Coronation Cup it's hard to see how he reverses form at the Royal fixture with Mostahdaf.
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On paper the others don't look good enough for an upset.
The Princess of Wales's is one of four races from Newmarket live on the main ITV network.
The action gets under way with a Group 3 St Leger trial in the Bahrain Trophy for three-year-olds over 1m5f.
I'll take a chance here with ZECHARIAH for the Meades and Ryan Moore.
I'm not sure about the stamina of Masekela, despite the fourth in the Derby, and Walk of Stars, but my hope did really well when second in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.
He seems to be improving all the time and might just outstay some more fancied horses.
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I can't wait for the Group 2 July Stakes over 6f for juveniles which looks a cracker between the Windsor Castle winner Little Big Bear and the Coventry runner-up PERSIAN FORCE.
I'm with the latter for Richard Hannon and Rossa Ryan. The Mehmas colt won at Doncaster and Newbury before chasing home Bradsell at Ascot.
Hannon really believes Persian Force is top class and I agree.
The three-year-old handicap over 6f is tough. INGRA TOR was disappointing last time at York but has a chance to bounce back for Tom Marquand and Mick Channon.
Prior to the York flop Ingra Tor had looked progressive when scoring well at Newmarket and if he repeats that effort he has every chance even off 9lb higher in the handicap.
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