6th-May-2016

This looks like a shoot-out between Godolphin and Ballydoyle, with Linguistic, Cook Islands and Housesofparliament dominating the market.  Of the trio, I think that Linguistic is the most solid, but I think that Viren’s Army is over-priced against the three of them, and I am taking a chance on Richard Hannon’s horse at a decent price.

Viren’s Army was progressive at the end of last season.  He stayed on well to win a decent handicap over nine furlongs at Nottingham in October, and he was only beaten a total of three parts of a length in a Group 3 race at Capannelle in Italy in his final run of the season.

He started off this season well, finishing third behind Oaks prospect So Mi Dar in the Epsom Derby Trial last month.  He just couldn’t go with the front two inside the final furlong, but that pair – So Me Dar and Humphrey Bogart – are both good, and he came clear of the fourth horse, after being a little short of room on the inside.

He should be able to continue the progression this season that he started at the end of last term.  He should progress from his last run, his seasonal debut and, if he does, that should put him into the mix.  His best turf form is on easy ground, but he ran well at Chelmsford last year on his only run on Polytrack, so he should be fine on the ground.  He is well-drawn in stall four, and Silvestre de Sousa is riding Chester very well this week.