British sprinters have managed to fight off an increasingly strong challenge from the Southern hemisphere for the past three years, but they will have their work cut out this year.
The formidable Takeover Target* has been a Royal Ascot regular and will be representing Australia again, while a new dimension opens up this year with the participation of crack South African Grade 1 winner J J The Jet Plane (11/4 Paddy Power), who won in Dubai and at Windsor last time out, and the Hong Kong-trained Sacred Kingdom (11/4 general), who looked back to his brilliant best when accounting for a quality field in Singapore last time. Throw-in the former Greek-trained Ialysos, who has yet to be beaten and made a successful debut for Luca Cumani at Haydock recently, and it's clear the race lives up to its billing as the 'British Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge'.
So what chance have we got of keeping the prize at home this year? Well, it’s hard to see past the heavyweights at the head of the betting – the combined odds for J J The Jet Plane and Sacred Kingdom are around 8/11. That said, there is always an element of the unknown when it comes to foreign horses running on British soil and, while they are undeniably good, they are not unbeatable in my opinion, so I’m inclined to find a value alternative. Step forward the William Haggas-trained KING'S APOSTLE, an improving and underrated sprinter who looks cracking each-way value at 8/1 with William Hill.
Granted, he’s not as flashy as some of the others, but I’m convinced he has the talent to win it. Last season, he was an unlucky third in the Wokingham, but it’s his win in the Group 2 Diadem Stakes over course and distance last September, when he stepped up a gear in the first-time visor, that marks him out as a potential winner here, and he has hinted at better to come this season. After finishing seventh on his debut at Newmarket over an in adequate 5f, he was a real eye-catcher on his next start at the York May meeting, flying home from a bad draw to finish second to in-form sprinter Utmost Respect, who was getting 3lb.
Interestingly, the visor which he last wore when winning the Diomed will be back on Saturday, while Haggaas has been banging in the winners of late with a brace of nice winners on Friday and Saturday last week, so everything is in place for a big run. He’s certainly the best of the British-trained runners in my opinion, although I have a healthy respect for Ialysos (10/1 Totesport), who is now trained in Britain. The way he powered through to win over 5f last month on his British debut suggests he will be even better over this trip. The other one to consider is last year’s winner Kingsgate Native (10/1 Victor Chandler), who will be making his debut for Sir Michael Stoute, having failed at stud, but he will surely need the race on his reappearance.
Recommended Bet:
King's Apostle 1pt each-way @ 8/1 William Hill
*Doubtful runner