The Gimme An ‘A’ For Effort Special

JONESTOWN (SEEKING THE GOLD x SEATTLE DANCER x PLEASANT COLONY) 9/2
Winner of seven races but never more than an allowance, no stakes or graded wins. Improved for the change of surface to grass and a great run over 100 plus sp’s but it’s been taking around a 110 or better to win Grade I’s just now and she hasn’t ran that fast. Will sit near the front so should have no excuses, the only question is whether she’s good enough on the day.

RAHY SET GO (RAHY x MARIA’S MON x GALLANT MAN) 9/1
Winner of ten reaces, all on turf including at stakes level but no graded wins and has struggled in any graded attempt except on one occasion where she got second with a 102 sp in a grade I. A 102 will not be good enough here and she may struggle today. There are just too many 80 and 90 sp figures in her recent runs to suggest she can cope consistantly at this level.

GANGLORD (DEVIL’S BAG x MR. PROSPECTOR x NORTHFIELDS) 7/2
Another who’s won all her races on turf and she does have stakes and Grade I winning form at around todays trip. A little inconsistant but can generally be relied upon to run a 105+ which puts her right in there today. She likes to sit midfield and will be closing in the last furlong and she looks nailed on for a top three at least. In fact she looks the one they all have to beat.

COSMO GIRL (STORM CAT x GONE WEST x NIJINSKY II) 7/2
Plenty of runs and all wins on turf, she has become brilliant but inconsistant, mixing 111 sp’s with 90’s. Most of her best runs have been at a mile or seven furlongs and a doubt today must be the trip of 6.5f. She can lead but has does so in races over further and they will be going much quicker today than she has been used to. If she can keep up she could win but i think a top three is more realistic.

TENACIOUS V (VINDICATION x LEAR FAN x BUCKPASSER) 5/1
Another hugely experienced runner with all but one of her wins on turf, and another who will find it far too short today. Her last Graded win was over 9f in the Dell Webb Oaks as a three year old. She sits right near the rear of the field in most of her races and if she does that today the rest of the field may be finished before she gets to change gear. Sorry but this trip will find her out today.

PJ EAST OF EDEN(IRE) (PEINTRE CELEBRE (IRE) x SINNDAR (IRE) x TENTILTWO) 13/1
She has only won three races and her best recent run was in a closing third place over 7f in a stakes race with a 102 sp. Thats her best recent run by some way and as she looked to want further than 7f, I don’t really know why she’s been dropped to 6.5f. And why she’s been upped to a Grade I where she will be way out of her depth. Try her at a mile in a stakes race and she may do something.

SUFI (VINDICATION x MR. PROSPECTOR x LEAR FAN) 5/1
A bit more interesting this one, she has recently won a stakes over 6f with a 110 sp which would give her a real chance but then her last two runs have produced sp’s of 94 and 97 and the manner of that last run over 6f suggested she is another rwho wants further. Ever recent run she has had screams try me at a mile except for that 110 sp and that confuses the picture. I think we have two possible outcomes, another 110 sp and a top three or another run thatt looks like she wants a mile and a second last placed finish.

LAMENTATIONS (WAR CHANT x SADLER’S WELLS x SHIRLEY HEIGHTS(GB)) 5/1
This one looks a live danger and in contrast to some of todays other runners she looks like she wants todays drop in trip having been running at around a mile recently. Her last run is a perfect example, she ran a 100 to win an allowance over 8f having been nearly six lengths clear at the three quarter pole. That suggests the trip today may be ideal and she does have stakes and graded form, so the class is there. For me she’ll blast out from the front and she may prove extremely difficult to catch.

OVERALL

For me the finish here looks between two, LAMENTATIONS and GANGLORD. The former will probably try and lead and could prove very difficult to pass so I’ll go for her to win by less than a length.