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Mighty Ulysses heads the current market in the 1m Group 3 Sovereign Stakes (4:10) for the Gosden team. The four-year-old will have cheek-pieces applied for the first time following a disappointing reappearance in the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot, where he was well-beaten into fifth behind Master Of The Seas. The form of the colt's victory in last July's Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes has been given a boost with the second-placed Alflaila returning with a victory in the Group 2 York Stakes earlier in the month. He possesses the ability to win, but improvement would be required from the performance shown at Ascot.
In comparison, Embesto is yet to disappoint in three racecourse starts. The Roger Varian-trained colt won his first two outings and stepped into Listed company when finishing a well-beaten second behind Nostrum in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket's July course. Although Nostrum was unable to uphold the form when second at Goodwood in Group 3 company, the ground was probably a worthy excuse for the colt and Embesto's second behind him remains fairly solid.
Regal Reality returns to the mile for the first time since 2021, having been campaigned over a variety of different trips in recent seasons. He is the only horse in the field to boast course and distance form, having won this contest in 2020. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained gelding returned to form over eight-and-a-half furlongs when scoring in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom Downs at the start of June and has been freshened up since. The drop back in distance seems key to Regal Reality's revival, and he could take advantage in a field where there are question marks about the other leading contenders.
WIN: REGAL REALITY
A competitive field of twelve line up for the 7f Class 4 Byerley Stud British EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies' Stakes (2:40) with some potentially nice prospects on display. Ralph Beckett is represented by debutante Sky Blaze who boasts a lovely pedigree as a full-sister to three-time French Listed winner In Front. Although longer trips are likely to suit her as a three-year-old, the filly's Group 3 placed half-brother More Than A Dream won as a juvenile on debut and she represents a yard in form – the Beckett team are operating at a strike rate of 33% from the last fourteen days.
Of the fillies who have already had the benefit of a racecourse start, Richard Hughes' Falling For You shaped with potential when fourth on debut at Windsor over six furlongs. She displayed signs of inexperience in the early stages but stayed on well to collect fourth in the dying strides. The step up in trip will be a positive.
WIN: SKY BLAZE
Welleef and Crown Dreams reoppose in the 7f Class 5 Sorvio Insurance Brokers Novice Stakes (3:10). Welleef made a winning start to career when defeating Crown Dreams at Leicester in a novice stakes by two-and-a-quarter lengths and will carry a seven pound penalty for the victory. Crown Dreams appears capable of reversing the form with that penalty in mind, especially as the gelding did not have the ideal run through the Leicester race. The son of Oasis Dream was carried right as the field left the stalls, which seemed to light him up and he potentially lost his race in the early stages by taking a very keen hold. He displayed a good attitude to rally again in the final furlong and a maiden victory looks on the cards given the circumstances.
WIN: CROWN DREAMS
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – SKY BLAZE
RACE 2 – CROWN DREAMS
RACE 3 – BOOM BOOM POW
RACE 4 – REGAL REALITY
RACE 5 – TRUTHFUL
RACE 6 – MONTY BAY