Jamie Lynch, senior type analyst for attheraces.com, seems to be ahead to the celebrated Group Three Greenham Stakes for three-year-old colts over seven furlongs at Newbury on Saturday, dwell Sky Sports activities Racing.
The eclipsing entity of Metropolis Of Troy over the technology means the goalpost for the Greenham has subtly shifted, much less of a trial to be examined and extra of a Group Three to be bagged, the explanation for a much bigger (and extra various) subject than most years, although the bar appears a bit decrease, too.
Alaskan Gold
Oisin Murphy / Karl Burke
Saved his finest for final as a two-year-old when giving Ballymount Boy a fright within the Listed dash at Doncaster, however one or each of the mud and the visor had a galvanising impact on him there and neither is in play for his return over a visit he is unsure to understand: his dam was a sprinter and she or he has largely produced sprinters. Not bringing a Guineas entry with him.
Military Ethos
Hollie Doyle / Archie Watson
Rated 110, Military Ethos was as excessive as joint-Twelfth among the many British-trained two-year-old colts of 2023, which was some achievement contemplating he ran solely twice and under no circumstances after June. Given how a lot he did in a short while and the way lengthy he was off the observe, I believe we are able to fall on the forgiving aspect for his reversal at 2/9 at Newcastle in March.
On the day, he excusably lacked a innovative, and the thoughts inevitably goes to team-mate Bradsell who was boring on his return from an identical absence final spring earlier than reigniting at Royal Ascot. The seventh furlong is a query mark for one his ebullience, extra so the mix of the first-time journey and first-time cheekpieces, considerably unusual bedfellows.
Ballymount Boy
James Doyle / Adrian Keatley
Essentially the most achieved of all of the Greenham subject as a two-year-old, his Listed win (from Alaskan Gold) at Doncaster in late-October placing some deserved gloss on a marketing campaign wherein he held his personal towards among the finest, mainly his second to the unstoppable Vandeek within the Richmond. In no way only a juvenile on seems to be, as he is sizeable, scopey and the kind to coach on properly, entered within the Guineas, however this in itself is a giant day and a giant probability for him.
El Bodon
Tom Marquand / Jane Chapple-Hyam
Agency foundations laid final 12 months – second to Watch My Tracer earlier than successful as he favored at Lingfield – however lacking a couple of rungs of the ladder to reappear right here, clearly extremely regarded (Guineas entrant). Loads going for him to assume he’ll be as much as this kind of degree in time however has about 20lb to search out with the principals for this, in all probability an excessive amount of too quickly.
Esquire
Danny Tudhope / David O’Meara
Did not begin till late-September however did quite a bit in his first section to dwell as much as his pedigree (his grandam was Peeress), second to the fully-formed Purosangue within the Rockingham at York earlier than getting seemingly caught within the mud at Doncaster behind Ballymount Boy (when solely 9/2). Right here to search out out not simply if he has the category but additionally the stamina, as he may turn into a sprinter – he confirmed baggage of pace final 12 months and is by Harry Angel.
James’s Delight
Richard Kingscote / Clive Cox
It is uncommon to see a horse like him within the Greenham, pot looking quite than reality discovering, making an attempt to strike whereas the iron’s scorching (and to catch a couple of chilly) following his wide-margin win within the mud in a Pontefract handicap off 88. Even with health on his aspect it might be a shock if he proved as much as this, plus he did not appear to get house on his one go at 7f final 12 months.
Mister Sketch
William Buick / Eve Johnson-Houghton
It was a substandard Mill Reef final 12 months, however that in itself should not be a follow which to beat runner-up Mister Sketch for whom it was one other Positive checkpoint following on from his nine-and-half-length – sure, nine-and-a-half-length – maiden win. He is bred for this far and a bit additional however harmonising with a brand new journey first trip could also be simpler stated than accomplished for a colt who naturally seems to be buzzy. Entered for the Guineas.
Room Service
Tom Eaves / Kevin Ryan
Even when he was in the precise place on the proper time because the race went, it is exhausting to select holes in his high-value win at Doncaster contemplating how the shape has been boosted repeatedly, principally by Dragon Chief. Must be higher nonetheless at this kind of journey this 12 months, and has an Irish Guineas entry, however he is already on Plan B after he was withdrawn with a temperature from the Burradon on Good Friday.
Son
Pat Dobbs / Richard Hannon
Banged his head towards a figurative wall in Group Twos after a maiden win right here at Newbury, although usually going through higher horses than he does right here, and he is very a lot a energetic longshot given his degree of type, increased than most in right here have managed, plus I doubt there will be a better-looking horse within the subject. What some see as uncovered strains is also described as hardened edges, together with assured stamina (already confirmed at a mile). He’ll beat greater than beats him.
Watch My Tracer
Callum Shepherd / George Scott
Again with a bang within the Listed Spring Cup at Lingfield, however what was referred to as for over 7f at Lingfield may be very completely different to right here, on straight, softish turf, to not point out the classier opposition. Official score of 99 nonetheless leaves him properly wanting the standard ending line in a Greenham.
Zoum Zoum
Rob Hornby / Ralph Beckett
Undefeated as a two-year-old, beating next-time winners on his first two begins earlier than going to France for a sluggish strangulation of a Listed subject, extra purposeful than flashy all alongside, a grinder not a glider. Hasn’t received any Traditional entries which, if something, will increase the significance of this present day for him, hardly a stepping stone, and the specifics of the take a look at will go well with him very properly, however frankly it is virtually not possible to again him at sub-2/1 contemplating there are half a dozen in right here with equal type, if not his potential.
Jamie Lynch’s verdict
A Greenham with a twist as a result of this 12 months’s version is in regards to the right here and now, not the longer term, the trial component of the race just about redundant this time, highlighted by the very fact the main focus favorite, Zoum Zoum, hasn’t even received a Guineas entry, and he is a thin worth contemplating he isn’t a head not to mention head and shoulders above the remainder to date. It is tempting to take a flyer on Son, however the share play is BALLYMOUNT BOY whose second to Vandeek is the single-best piece of type within the race, and he is all the time seemed a greater three-year-old within the making.