ST NICHOLAS ABBEY is a horse to follow this season, as I pointed out in the article on the weekend of his return, and although he was a disappointing beaten favourite on that appearance, his subsequent win at Chester proved he still has all of the class that he promised as a champion two year old. The son of Montjeu runs over 1m 4f at Epsom, which was his destiny from first being foaled, although there is one slight difference, that being he is running in the Coronation Stakes rather running in The Derby. The long time ante post Derby favourite makes his first appearance at Epsom on Friday and will face a maximum of six rivals. He should be in a different parish to this field, with the only threat being the Henry Cecil trained Midday, the multiple group one winning filly, who was successful in the Middleton Stakes at York. However I am of the belief that there is a massive difference between colts and fillees. The James Given pair of Dandino and Indian Days are tough and consistent, however they should not have the class to compete with a horse the ilk of St Nicholas Abbey, and he should win this race rather well.
TIMEPIECE is a filly that I followed for the duration of last year, was disapppointing this time last year, when the again, long time ante post favourite, did not perform as expected in the Investec Oaks. However she can gain redemption in the Investec Princess Elizabeth Stakes. The Group 3 race is a hotly contested affair, with some very good group races on show, including Antara, the Goldolphin five year old who won the race last year, and has strong form, the best of which being defeated a head by Stacelita in the Prix Jean Romanet (Group 1) in France. She should be tough to beat, but Timepiece may be the stronger value. She was nothing but progressive last year, really putting her career back on track. She won at Royal Ascot, before winning a listed race, and then finished second behind my personal longtime Oaks hope Modeyra for Godolphin. Her run behind Midday in the Totesport Middletion Stakes at York should have blown the cobwebs off and made her cherry ripe for this race, and with jockey Tom Queally on board, the pair should be celebrating a deserved victory.
It is usually a indicative sign of how strongly Godolphin fancy one of their runners at 'lesser' tracks when stable jockey Frankie Dettori is on board, and they have an interesting runner at Nottingham in LA DE TWO. He runs in the class two conditions stakes, and is back from two runs in Meydan, where although not successful was not disgraced, and beaten only 14 lengths in two appearances. Before that he ran Free Agent close in a Conditions race at Salisbury, and there is clearly promise there. He must be difficult to train with only 7 runs under his belt so far for the 5 year old. Based on his runs at Meydan, the drop in trip should suit, and he has to be respected due to connections.
4.15 Nottingham (Wednesday) - La De Two
1.40 Epsom (Friday) - Timepiece
2.45 Epsom (Friday) - St Nicholas Abbey (NAP)
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