31st-Mar-2012

The Cheka is too big for this at 9/1 in my book.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s gelding finished fifth in Paco Boy’s Lockinge Stakes in 2010, and he kept good company last season over seven furlongs, getting beaten a short head in the Gladness Stakes, and then winning a Group 3 race at Haydock in May.

On his last three runs last season, however, at Goodwood, Doncaster and Ascot, he shaped as if a drop down to six furlongs might help him a little. He travelled well through those races, but just couldn’t go on through the final furlong as well as it looked like he might. It may have been that he was showing plenty of speed against seven-furlong rivals, and that he will be found out today against six-furlong specialists, but he could improve for the extra premium that today’s shorter trip will place on speed.

Mayson and Waffle and Royal Rock set a fair standard today, as does the exciting Sirius Prospect, but The Cheka is proven in a higher grade, he escapes a Group 3 penalty for his victory at Haydock last May, and the drop down in trip doesn’t have to improve him a great deal at all in order to see him involved. He is well worth backing at 9/1. He is weak on Betfair this morning, so be sure to back him with a firm who are guaranteeing their morning prices, as his SP could be even bigger than that.

THE CHEKA WON (SP 12/1)