Classic
Classic
5th-Jul-2025
Greek Order is a big player here, he ran a big race in the Royal Hunt Cup on his first run back in Britain after a spell with Bill Mott in America. He finished fourth overall, but he finished second to the hugely progressive winner My Cloud in the near-side group, the pair of them clear of their rivals on that side.
A 2lb hike for that run was not harsh, but he is short here, and this is a quick enough turnaround after his first run back from a break. Second in the 2023 Cambridgeshire when he was with Juddmonte and the Charltons, I am hoping that we can get him later in the season, but he may be vulnerable today, in a race that is coming up just 17 days after the race that was surely his primary target.
By contrast, it is possible that this race has been Classic’s target for a little while, and he is over-priced in my book. Richard Hannon’s horse shaped well in each of his first two runs this season, both at Newbury, the latter when he finished fourth to the aforementioned My Cloud, and he took a step forward last time at Sandown. He was a little unlucky there, he didn’t have a lot of racing room inside the two-furlong marker as the leader started to weaken in front of him. Switched out wide, he finished off his race well, but he just couldn't get to Urban Lion, who enhanced the form when he finished fifth in the Royal Hunt Cup.
Classic didn’t go to Royal Ascot, so he goes into this race fresh, and he goes well at Sandown. He won the three-year-olds’ seven-furlong handicap on this day two years ago. He hasn’t won since then, but he is down to a mark of 87 now, 7lb lower than his peak, and he is shaping as if he has another big performance in him. He could be primed for today.
CLASSIC WON (ADV 6/1, SP 6/1)
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