4.00 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) 6f:

Carry The Flag: Beat Sun Goddess in a maiden, has won at listed level and brings buckets of experience to the table. However, has lots to find on ratings and trailed the Railway Stakes field after making the running last time.

Celeron: Impressive winner of the Group 2 Railway here three weeks ago, beating three of these rivals (Tribeca, The Scallionator and Carry The Flag) handsomely. Hard to knock this dual course winner, who was drawn on the wrong side in Windsor Castle Stakes on his only other start. Officially the highest rated.

Folsom Blues: Hails from a red-hot Joseph O’Brien team and is getting better with every start. Built on eye-catching debut third here to readily win a maiden at Gowran Park and then came home strongly from well off the pace for second in the Group 3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown. Drops down in distance, but bound to be sharpened up by what he’s learned in three runs and is by an influence for speed in Blue Point.

King Of Cloughan: Windsor Castle Stakes winner was arguably a shade disappointing in the three-runner Group 2 Prix Robert Papin last time when a safely-held second to Tokaido, though that winner is held in high regard. Stable jockey prefers Folsom Blues.

The Scallionator: Ran with credit when fourth to Celeron in the Railway last time, but hasn’t shown enough to suggest that he’s capable of winning a Group 1.

Tribeca: Smart debut winner left a disappointing Norfolk Stakes run behind when second, beaten three lengths, behind Celeron in the Railway. Represents connections with a fine recent record in this race. More needed now but has the physical scope to improve.

Sun Goddess: A Royal Ascot banker for many when run down late on into second in the Albany. However, has won both starts either side of that outing at this venue, including the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes six weeks ago. Obvious claims if she’s able to build on that against the boys.

Velozee: Only beaten a length in what looked a competitive Ascot Group 3 last time. However, this looks a deeper affair and she’ll need to improve.

Conclusion:

It’s difficult to pick too many holes in what Sun Goddess and Celeron achieved here last time, but the early market shows don’t give enough credit to the talent of Folsom Blues, who has been progressing nicely and deserves a shot at this level. He’s proven over further but showed a nice deal of speed here on debut and looks an each-way bet to nothing in a race with the dead eight runners declared.