Eldrickjones

Coventry Stakes

BEFORE it became blindingly obvious that the centre of the straight course was not the place to be, the Coventry Stakes had been and gone, with Berkshire Shadow blasing up the ‘golden highway’ stands’ rail to win comfortably by one and a quarter lengths.

The horse he beat was Roger Fell’s Eldrickjones, who was a 66/1 shot after he finished second on his sole start in a Thirsk maiden, and yet it’s difficult not surmise that he was the best horse in the race considering he did all his running towards the centre and had his run checked twice for good measure.

Purchased by the ever shrewd Nick Bradley, he can win a maiden at likely short odds before coming back to pattern races.

Great Max

Chesham Stakes

Michael Bell’s Great Max had only won on debut in a Newbury maiden nine days before he took his chance in last Saturday’s Chesham Stakes, but he acquitted himself very well, finishing third to Point Lonsdale.

He showed signs of inexperience at Newbury and did so again here when hanging to his left initially under pressure, before putting his head down again and passing Sweeping for third. The two horses that finished ahead of him, Point Lonsdale and Reach For The Moon, are excellent prospects, but he is as well for the burgeoning operation Amo Racing.

Eshaada

Ribblesdale Stakes

Eshaada was just in the wrong place everywhere in the Ribblesdale. Firstly, she was held up in the rear of a field running slower than you’d have expected. Not only that, she had to make a sweeping move on the outside of the field in the straight and in turn, had to make most of her ground closer to the perceived slowest part of the track.

And yet, she still nearly got up to beat Loving Dream, enhancing her profile further in defeat. This was just her third ever start and she had initially been impressive in the Haras Du Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes at Newbury, a race won by some top fillies in recent seasons. A daughter of Muhaarar, she has a surprising amount of stamina, and even holds an entry in the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood but may well be one to consider for the Yorkshire Oaks now.

Chipotle

Windsor Castle Stakes

The Windsor Castle is usually one of the less heralded juvenile contests of the week but it was hard not to be taken by its winner this year, Eve Johnson Houghton’s Chipotle. Racing on the far side, he hit the front between the two- and one-furlong poles, and powered clear late on, clearly benefitting from being able to run off a red-hot pace over the five furlongs.

He could well be underrated now, given he doesn’t hail from a top stable and has already had four starts, but he’s clearly very fast and is well worth chancing at a higher level. Connections clearly think so, because they’ve given him an entry in the Nunthorpe.