Emperor Napoleon

Emperor Napoleon was very free through the early stages of the Melrose Stakes, but he travelled like the best horse in the race for Liam Keniry for a long way. He travelled best of all into the home straight, and he moved easily into the lead half way up the home straight. But that was fully two and a half furlongs from home and, while he kicked into a nice lead, he was always going to be vulnerable to a finisher, a horse with strong stamina, given how strong the early pace was. Sure enough, he was overhauled initially by Regal Monarch, before Wall Of Fire swooped down the outside, last to first, responding to sustained pressure to land the prize.

It was still a fine run from Emperor Napoleon. Andrew Balding’s colt is a progressive handicapper, he improved from his run behind Dal Harraild at Glorious Goodwood here, and he can continue to progress. The handicapper left him on his mark of 88, which is a mark which he should be able to surpass on this evidence. He goes well on easy ground, so he will be of interest when the ground eases all around as we move into the autumn, and he should do better dropped back down in trip to a mile and a half.

20^th August 2016