War Command cut to 5-1 for Guineas after Coventry victory

The most astonishing two-year-old performance of Royal Ascot was undoubtedly that of War Command in the Coventry Stakes. Aidan O’Brien’s son of War Front was seemingly the stable third choice but routed the opposition, eventually winning by six lengths.

It was a performance that compares with the likes of previous Coventry winners Chief Singer and Canford Cliffs. If 5-1 seems a bit skinny for next year’s classics, it is worth recalling that four of the previous six Coventry winners went on to win a classic at three.

Henrythenavigator (2007) and Dawn Approach (2012) won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket the following season whilst Canford Cliffs (2009) and Power (2011) won the Irish Guineas at three. O’Brien nominated the Heinz as a more immediate target and an impressive success there may see War Command’s price tumble even further.

Richard Fahey’s Parbold ran a good race in defeat and earned a 33-1 quote for the Guineas with the third horse Sir John Hawkins priced at 20-1.

Kiyoshi has emerged as clear favourite for the 1000 Guineas after destroying her field in similar fashion in Thursday’s Albany Stakes. Charlie Hills trained Just The Judge to finish second in this year’s classic before gaining compensation in Ireland and he looks to have another star filly on his hands.

Kiyoshi is 8-1 favourite with runner-up Sandiva, another trained by Richard Fahey, quoted at 16-1 and Queen Mary winner Rizeena at 14-1. Clive Brittain has mapped out an ambitious plan for Rizeena taking in the Moyglare and the Cheveley Park.

The biggest mover in the Eclipse market has been The Fugue after her promising run in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes when third to Al Kazeem and Mukhadram. The winning trainer is yet to confirm plans but there is a suspicion that he may be tempted to wait for the King George. The Fugue is now down to 7-2 for Sandown with Mukhadram at 8-1 and Mars cut to 5-1 after his fine third in the St. James’s Palace Stakes.

Hillstar has been cut to 9-1 for the St Leger after wearing down Battle Of Marengo in the King Edward VII Stakes and Queen’s Vase winner Leading Light earned a quote of 10-1 after his battling display.