3.35 Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes (Group 1) 5f
Big Gossey: Course specialist won the Bold Lad Premier Handicap on this card in 2021 and 2023, and showed his wellbeing when fifth in the Cambridgeshire over a trip further than his best here last time. Bound to run his usual solid race but tough ask in Group 1 company.
Bradsell: Top-class sprinter fresh from winning the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York 23 days ago. Appeared to race on more favourable part of the track than runner-up Believing on that occasion but is clearly an established performer at this level. Possible concern that two of his three most disappointing runs have come on two appearances at the Curragh.
Desperate Hero: Won off a mark of 74 last season and is now up to 104, so has been a massive improver. Trailed Group 2 field at Goodwood last time, however, and hard to fancy strongly.
Go Athletico: Group 3 winner here last season finished down the field at ParisLongchamp when last seen 126 days ago. The word soft or yielding has featured in the going description for seven of his eight career wins so conditions will probably be quicker than he ideally wants.
Go Bears Go: Has won a Group 2, Group 3 and been third in a Group 1 on his three visits to the Curragh, though hasn’t won since August 2022 and has been campaigned across America and Europe in the interim. Entitled to improve from recent return from absence but others preferred.
Kerdos: Four-year-old colt appears to be getting better with age, winning Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock in May before solid showings to finish fifth in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot and King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. A little more required to get the better of some of these Group 1 performers but solid each-way chance at the prices.
Moss Tucker: Caused an upset in this race 12 months ago and returned in excellent form this year to win listed sprint on return but below best in two appearance back up in class since. Stiff five furlongs here probably brings out the best in him but others have more attractive overall profiles.
Washington Heights: Progressive four-year-old didn’t disgrace himself when sixth in the Nunthrope. However, he’s possibly better at six furlongs (won Newmarket Group 3 at that trip in April) and has yet to make a major impact at this type of grade. Lively outsider.
Bucanero Fuerte: Last season’s Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner beat Givemethebeatboys on his return in May and looked set for a tilt at the Commonwealth Cup before travel sickness ruled him out of that target. Absent until respectable sixth in last week’s Sprint Cup at Haydock, and connections expect him to improve for the run. Step back to five furlongs at this level a slight unknown but looks the best of the Irish.
Givemethebeatboys: Showed plenty of grit to win the Listed Committed Stakes and Group 3 Phoenix Sprint on home soil this year, and failed to fire in two starts in Britain (reportedly had a large abscess under his lip that required surgery post the Commonwealth Cup). Showed enough early pace over six furlongs last week in the Sprint Cup to suggest he’ll be fine down in trip here but must bounce back from that ordinary run.
Jasour: Solid third in the Commonwealth Cup and beaten a similar margin in the July Cup when sixth, though took a step in the wrong direction in the Sprint Cup last week when 10th. Place chance if building on his best form.
Ano Syra: Has posted some big efforts at this track, including when third in the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes this season. Below her best the last twice, though, and would be an upset winner.
Believing: Extremely honest filly has taken form to new level in last 12 months, finishing a close third in last year’s Sprint Cup at Haydock before back-to-back fourths in Royal Ascot Group 1s, a win here in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes and second to Bradsell in the Nunthorpe. Made her challenge on what appeared to be the less-favoured part of the track at York and only beaten three quarters of a length, so must have a chance of reversing form with Bradsell provided she gets a more even setup here.
Makarova: Appears to appreciate a little ease in the ground but did show up well in decent conditions here when third to Believing in the Sapphire Stakes, not getting a clear run either. Has work to do to reverse Nunthrope form of her seventh behind some of the leading players here.
Matilda Picotte: Forward-going filly probably at her best over further than this but showed her wellbeing when only caught late on at Tipperary last time. Has never raced over shorter than six furlongs so this is an interesting experiment to see if she can cope with that.
Vadream: Has only won twice since October 2021 (those wins in first half of last season) but is capable of showing up well in big sprints, as shown last week when fourth in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock at 50/1. Clearly in good heart but others have more solid overall winning credentials.
Beautiful Diamond: Three-year-old filly ran a big race when second to Believing here in the Sapphire Stakes on Irish Oaks day. Mark of 104 leaves her 14lb below the standard set by Bradsell but isn’t overly exposed by any means.
She’s Quality: Better than ever when tried in blinkers and bolting up last time in the Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary. This is much tougher and another career best is required, though she is only a three-year-old so is entitled to be improving.
Conclusion:
British-trained runners finished second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh in this race last year and look extremely well placed to take the main prize this time around. Despite a slight concern that she’s been so busy, Believingis taken to turn the tables on Bradsell back at a track where she has proven effective - something that can’t be said for the Nunthorpe winner thus far. Clive Cox was second in this race last year with an outsider and his Kerdos is probably the each-way value in the race.