23rd-Jun-2018

The Windsor Castle Stakes is wide open, but I think that Soldier’s Call is still worth backing at 16/1.

I still think that the form of the Lingfield race in which he and Glory Fighter pulled clear is strong juvenile form.  The front pair pulled clear, and they broke the juveniles’ course record.

Glory Fighter was beaten in the Norfolk Stakes on Thursday when we had him on side, but he was held up in that race in a race in which it was an advantage to race on the pace, and he raced on the near side, well away from where the race developed on the far side.  It all happened a little too quickly for him, and he never had a chance to get into the race.

Also, at Lingfield, Soldier’s Call was making his racecourse debut, whereas Glory Fighter had had a run.  And Soldier’s Call raced towards the centre of the track, away from the favoured stands side rail.  And the third horse, Tin Hat, went close in a conditions race at Beverley two weeks ago.

Furthermore, Soldier’s Call then went to Haydock and proved that he could operate on fast ground by winning a novice stakes easily.

That was just his second run, so there is every chance that he will progress again.  It is difficult to know how good Moonlight Romance is, but the Wesley Ward runners have not been head and shoulders above the British and Irish this week.  From six runners, he has had just one winner, Shang Shang Shang, who got home by a nose in the Norfolk Stakes.  On the plus side, she is drawn 28, Soldier’s Call is drawn 22.  The pace should be close by.

Queen Of Bermuda is progressive and the two stable companions that Van Beethoven split in the Marble Hill last time, Fairyland and Land Force, have both run big races in defeat this week.  But, at the prices, Soldier’s Call is the bet.

SOLDIER’S CALL WON (ADV 16/1, SP 12/1)