Spring Of Fame

09-Jul-2009

I'm giving Spring Of Fame another chance here, dropped back down to a mile. He was disappointing in the Hampton Court last time, but the pace was very strong that day and it may be that he didn't fully see out the 10-furlong trip. He gave the impression when racing over a mile at Sandown in May, when third to Border Patrol, that he would benefit from going up in trip, but he was held up out the back that day in what was a fairly slowly-run mile, and it may be that a fast-run mile is his optimum.

The form of that Sandown race is rock solid. Border Patrol is a classy individual, and the runner-up, Spring Of Fame's stable companion Ashram, went and finished third in the Jersey Stakes on his next run. Also, the form of Spring Of Fame's run in the Newmarket Stakes on his debut this season looks even better now with the winner, Your Old Pal, finishing second in the King Edward, and the runner-up, Palavicini, beating King Edward winner Father Time in the Fairway Stakes on his subsequent run.

Derbaas put up a really good performance in the Silver Bowl behind Desert Creek last time, but that was on heavy ground and it was a significant step up on anything he had done before. The ground is certain to be on the fast side today, so that will not be ideal.

The two market leaders are priced up on potential. Cloudy Start put up an impressive performance in beating Set The Trend last time, but that was on the Polytrack at Kempton. He is progressive, and he has 6lb in hand of Spring Of Fame on official ratings, but he is a fashionable horse, he is priced up on that rating, and it is 20lb higher than the mark off which he won a seven-furlong handicap at Epsom on Derby weekend.

Loch Linnhe is also fashionable. He was sent off at as short as 6/1 for the Jersey Stakes on the back of a maiden win at Newmarket in May, albeit an impressive one. He is another who could turn out to be high class, but he still has to improve a fair bit on what he has achieved to beat Spring Of Fame. The Godolphin horses are just hitting form now, Spring Of Fame is stepping down in grade after competing in three listed races, and he is over-priced at 4/1. He is weak on Betfair this morning, and I can see him drift further today as support comes for the sexier horses, so be sure to back him with a firm who are guaranteeing their morning prices.

SPRING OF FAME WON (SP 9/2)

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