Profitable

14th-Jun-2016

Just as he was under-rated during the run up to the Temple Stakes when we had him on side, I think that Profitable is under-rated again during the run up to the King’s Stand Stakes.  He only got home by a neck from Mecca’s Angel in the Temple Stakes, and he had to survive a stewards’ enquiry afterwards, but he was the winner on merit.

That was the mare’s seasonal debut, she could come on for it, but she does go well fresh, so it is not a given that she will.  And Profitable is proven now as a top class sprinter, he has won the Palace House and the Temple Stakes, and he may not be finished yet.

He is probably still progressing, as four-year-old sprinters can, and he is trained by Clive Cox, who went on a similar march with Lethal Force three years ago: he finished second in the Duke of York Stakes before winning the Diamond Jubilee at the Royal meeting, then going on to land the July Cup.

Profitable is a five-furlong specialist for whom ground just on the easy side of good is probably optimal, and the ground could be close to that on Tuesday.  Also, he has run really well on both occasions on which he has run at Ascot, he was only beaten a nose in a nursey there in September 2014, and he finished a close-up fifth at 50/1 in the Commonwealth Cup last year.

Acapulco is obviously a player, but Mecca’s Angel beat her on merit in the Nunthorpe, giving her 24lb – she will only give her 7lb on Tuesday – and easy ground may not be ideal for her.  It is a similar story with Goldream and Muthmir.  I can see both Profitable and Mecca’s Angel shortening further as the rains arrive, but Mecca’s Angel has never run at Ascot and, of the pair, I prefer Profitable.

PROFITABLE WON (ADV 6/1, SP 4/1)