Similar conditions last year, Goldikova beat Paco Boy by a neck. Hannon and Hughes are adamant Canford is the best horse they have had.
The only thing that worries me is Richard Hughes. If he cocks it up, it is usually in style. Recent example Dubawi Gold in the Irish Guineas (not speaking through my pocket as I had Dunboyne Express in my patent).
He must get it spot on. Canford is the sort of horse - with his finishing burst - you only get one run with (like Paco).
Goldikova is obviously brilliant, but at the age of 6 she may be vulnerable to Canford's younger legs. At 4, he should be at the peak of his powers and seems to have grown a lot since 3. After all she has done for connections, don't think they would consider 2nd the end of the world. She was probably kept in training with one main aim - another Breeders Cup Mile.
For the Kings Stand, I like the look of Sole Power. A lot of the foreign trainers seem rather bullish about their chances but the one could be Sole Power. Overdose is likely to blaze a trail again, and that could set up a repeat of the Temple Stakes from Haydock. Sole Power should be travelling well and, unless something else is going similarly well and finishes better, he could be the one to beat.
Frankel looks unopposable in the St James's Palace. No reason to see why any of the others should reverse the form. Despite having room for improvement, Frankel probably does too. Wootton Bassett looks an excellent bet for a place though, was excellent at two and according to Fahey cut his own throat in the French Guineas due to his early keenness. Hanagan didn't want to have to make the running that day but that is how it turned out, especially from his poor draw too. Should definitely fill one of the places, probably fighting it out with Grand Prix Boss, Dubawi Gold and Excellebration. Will be fascinating to see how Dream Ahead runs on his first start at three.
Barry Hills has laid Mezmaah out for this and won very well on debut at Haydock and should've improved, as expected, for the experience. Power is one to take seriously though, O'Brien is never short of a talented juvenile so he obviously thinks this one is up to the standard required. Won well on debut and just found the 5f too sharp last time but managed to hold on, was a listed race too. Races like this though you never know where the most potential for improvement may lie.
Junior should be thereabouts in the next but is a lot farther up the weights than he was last year, although he does seem to have improved a lot over jumps during the winter so there could still be improvement in him. I like the look of the Gosden horse, Zigato. Looks to have a good profile for it, and doesn't carry too much weight either. Won at Ascot last time out over 2m after looking unlucky during running, the 6lb rise shouldn't stop him going close here over the exta half mile.
Similar to the Coventry, there could be improvement to come from anywhere. Could be a big priced winner here. I'm going for either Worthington or Gentleman's Code. Wesley Ward trains the latter in America and he has sent over some very fast front runners, could blitz them from the front like one of his others did a couple of years ago. Worthington won well on debut at Carlisle, looks the Fahey first string and should have bags of improvement to come. Not a race to get too heavily involved in.
My picks for tomorrow;
Canford Cliffs
Sole Power
Frankel
Power
Zigato
Gentleman's Code
