Lord North

7th-Jun-2020

This is a fascinating contest.  Elarqam is top class, and Sangarius is potentially top class.  I am slow to take on either of them, both horses could be in for big seasons, and Sir Michael Stoute has won the last three renewals of this race and five of the last nine.  But both horses may have bigger fish to fry this season.  They may both be easing their way in.

By contrast, Lord North is stepping up from handicap and listed company last season, he won the Cambridgeshire and he finished second to Escobar in the Balmoral Handicap on British Champions Day at Ascot, before going back to Newmarket and winning a listed race.  This is his first attempt at a Group 3 contest.  He is deserving of his shot at it, and he has the potential to go higher.

He has run just seven times in his life, so he has lots of scope for progression.  Ten furlongs is a good trip for him, and he will appreciate the ease in the ground.

He has 8lb to find with Elarqam on official ratings, but he only has 1lb to find with Sangarius, and he is a much bigger price than both.  Elarqam is the main danger in my book, but Sangarius is fashionable, which is probably why he is much shorter in the market than Lord North.

John Gosden has his horses in good form, and Lord North is the value here in my book.

LORD NORTH WON (ADV 4/1, SP 3/1)