Royal Ascot 2015: Chesham Stakes preview (14.30)
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Ballydoyle shaped with bags of promise on her debut, and can provide the on-fire trainer/jockey combination of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore with another Royal Ascot success in the Listed 7f Chesham Stakes.
The filly was sent off a heavily backed 5/6 favourite when finishing just fourth of eight to Miss Katie Mae in a 6f contest at the Curragh, but ran much better than the 3 1/4 lengths she was beaten suggests.
After being slow into stride and held-up at the rear, Ballydoyle showed distinct signs of greenness and had to be niggled early to keep in touch.
The well-bred daughter of Galileo was still in last place and pushed along with two furlongs to go, but the penny then started to drop and Ballydoyle kept on nicely under a hands and heels ride to be nearest at the finish.
The step up to 7f also looks sure to suit, and Ballydoyle is bred to be useful as she is a full sister to the yard’s 1000 Guineas winner Misty For Me.
Fellow Irish raider Tonkinese has some strong form in the book and looks a big danger.
The Michael Halford trained colt ran really well on debut over 6f at the Curragh when a 2 1/4 length third to Air Force Blue, and the winner ran a cracker earlier in the week when runner-up in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes.
That form reads well in the context of this contest, and Tonkinese has since gone on to register an easy three length success in a 7f maiden at Leopardstown and should have plenty more to offer.
Another in with a big shout is the John Gosden trained Force.
The colt caught the eye on his debut over 6f at Goodwood when staying on under tender handling to finish a never nearer 3 1/2 length third to Strong Challenge.
Force is crying out for the step up to 7f judged on that effort, and the son of Raven’s Pass is a sure fire improver who has major claims of providing Gosden with back-to-back successes in the contest.
