The Lost King

I am backing The Lost King against him.  He has been continually progressive since the start of the season, with the blip of the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot, which you can easily forgive because he was drawn on the wrong side and because it was Ascot, Royal Ascot. He was well beaten in the Britannia last year too on his only other run at the track.

By contrast, he has run just once at York, last time in a handicap over today’s course and distance, and he won nicely.  He was prominent from early that day, and he travelled well into his race.  He could have been called as the most likely winner from a long way out.  A 6lb hike for that is not insignificant, but he left the impression that he was winning with plenty in hand.  It was significant that, when Mr Swivell closed on him a little late on, he appeared to go forward again.  It looked like he had lots of energy left.

That was on fast ground, but he should be okay today on easier ground.  He could even improve for it.  He has good form on good ground and, actually, when he won at Wolverhampton in early March, the feeling was that he would go for the Lincoln as long as there was some cut in the ground.  Andrew Balding is a top trainer, he is having a great year and he has his horses in really good form, and Oisin Murphy is obviously an asset.

THE LOST KING WON (ADV 9/1, SP 7/1)