17th-Aug-2024

This is obviously highly competitive, but I think that Lethal Levi’s chance has been under-rated by the market by a fair way.

Best known as a six-furlong horse in his younger days, he proved his versatility and opened up more options for himself when he ran a fine race in the Challenge Cup over seven furlongs at Ascot last October, leading from early on the near side and keeping on well once he was headed in a race in which, not unusually for Ascot, the hold-up horses came to the fore.

He has worn cheekpieces and a visor in the past, and he won a six-furlong handicap at Newbury in May in first-time blinkers off a mark of 91.  Raised 7lb for that, he ran a big race in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot next time off his new mark of 98.  Stepped back up to seven furlongs next time for the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket, he ran another big race there, giving best only to Aalto in the end.

You have to forgive him his latest run in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, but you easily can because, firstly, he got loose before the start and, secondly, he was beaten at a short price on his only other run at Goodwood.   In contrast to Goodwood, we know that he goes well at Newbury, he is one for one there, and he remains unexposed over seven furlongs.

Waleefy is the main danger in my book, he is really well bred and he is progressive, but he is fashionable, he is always popular, and Lethal Levi is a fair way over-priced against him in my book.

LETHAL LEVI WON (ADV 15/2, SP 15/2)