20/1 Alexandros looks value for the in-form ‘Boys in Blue’ against Paco Boy
PACO BOY is as short as 11/10 with Boylesports to win tomorrow’s Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes and will take some beating. Richard Hannon’s four-year-old son of Desert Style is looking to land the second Group One contest of his career having won last year’s Prix De La Foret at Longchamp on Arc weekend.
However, that race was run over his favoured seven furlongs and there was also plenty of cut in the ground that day, even though the ground was described as good. Many pundits have questioned whether Paco Boy actually stays a true run mile and Hannon’s colt went some way to silencing those doubters by landing the Sandown Mile last time. Yet, that wasn’t the most competitive of heats and the fact still remains that he has been beaten on the three other occasions he has run over a trip further than seven furlongs.
If he is going to get beaten, then according to the bookmakers, the most likely beneficiary will be Willie Haggas’s Aqlaam. Last year’s Royal Ascot Jersey Stakes winner has not been seen out since winning that seven furlong contest and I’m reluctant to back him at around the 7/2 mark as he’s stepping up to a mile for the first time and may need the run. Twice Over would be interesting if returning to the form that saw him chase home New Approach in last year’s Champion Stakes. However, Henry Cecil’s charge looked as if he needed to be stepped up in trip rather than down when tapped for toe at Newmarket last time.
That leaves Virtual (needs more rain), Dream Eater (a little bit of a monkey) and the Godolphin trained ALEXANDROS. At the prices, the latter represents real decent each-way value at 20/1 from a yard that is just hitting form at the right time. The ‘Boys in Blue’ won this contest 12 months ago and it’s not out of the question that our selection can go very close to causing a real upset. He showed improved form in Dubai over the winter, is race fit and the form of his third place to Gladiatorus in the Dubai Duty Free puts him right in amongst the best of these.
There is some more cracking televised racing from York this afternoon and look out for Richard Hannon’s REDESIGNATION who will surely appreciate a stronger gallop than at Newmarket last time. He looks on an upward curve and the handicapper may not quite have caught up with him yet. Another one worth a second look is ABRAHAM LINCOLN in the sprint at 4.20pm. This time last year he was trained by Aidan O’Brien and was touched off in a Group 3 at the Curragh. He is now in the hands of Dandy Nicholls and looked to be on the way back last time. He’s been given a horror draw which is a negative, but if he returns to his best, he’ll eat this lot for breakfast.