22nd-Jun-2017

Irishcorrespondent and Orderofthegarter are both interesting here.  Irish Correspondent was impressive in winning his first two races, and he didn’t run badly in finishing third in the Irish Guineas last time, while Orderofthegarter was impressive in winning the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown in April, and he ran well in the French Derby last time when he didn’t have much luck in-running.

Also, Mirage Dancer is very interesting, by Frankel out of Heat Haze, a Grade 1 winner in America and a half-sister to Dansili and Banks Hill, who didn’t have a lot of luck in-running in the Dee Stakes last time on just his second run.

That said, Benbatl sets the standard, they all have to improve to reach the level that he has set, and he is the value for me at 9/2.  Unraced as a juvenile, the Godolphin colt was impressive in winning his maiden at Doncaster in April on his racecourse debut, and he ran well in the Craven Stakes next time to finish third behind Eminent.

He stepped forward from that when he stepped up to today’s distance for the Dante, finishing second to Permian, and he stepped forward again last time when he finished fifth in the Derby.

He did stay on well at the end of a mile and a half that day, and the King Edward VII Stakes could have been the race for him at Royal Ascot as a result, but he has 10-furlong pace, and Taj Mahal should ensure that there is a good pace on today.  A fast-run 10 furlongs at a stiff track could be ideal.

Taj Mahal could out-run his odds, he did really well to keep on as well as he did to finish fourth in the French Derby against a pace bias, but Benbatl is the bet in my book.  He has the best form in the race, and he has raced just four times, so he is another who, like his market rivals, still has potential for progression.

BENBATL WON (ADV 9/2, SP 9/2)