ASCOT PREVIEWTHE AIDAN O'Brien-John Murtagh team have a bumper Group One week in their sights at Royal Ascot although the view will get a lot cloudier if Henrythenavigator can't follow in some illustrious Ballydoyle hoofprints and land the first-day feature.
Victory for the long odds-on favourite in the St James's Palace Stakes will mean a fifth win in the race in the last nine years for O'Brien who has described Henrythenavigator as the best miler he has trained.
Since the likes of Giants Causeway (2000) and Rock Of Gibraltar (2002) are on the champion trainer's roll-of-honour in the St James's Palace that is some statement but then his regally bred colt looks some horse.
Two defeats of New Approach in the English and Irish Guineas got the perfect form boost when New Approach landed the Derby and the Irish star boasts an overall level of form that none of his eight opponents this afternoon can come close to.
Already a Royal Ascot winner in last year's Coventry, Henrythenavigator is reportedly still improving in his home work at Ballydoyle, an idea that makes opposing him this time with the likes of the French Guineas hero Falco or the former Derby favourite Twice Over look futile.
A dozen Irish-trained horses in total line up today with O'Brien throwing three at the opening Queen Anne Stakes and Finsceal Beo representing Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning. Finsceal Beo drops back to a mile after chasing home Duke Of Marmalade in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and runs into an old foe in what could turn into an all-filly finish.
Darjina just denied Finsceal Beo a unique Guineas hat-trick last year at Longchamp and ended up landing three Group One prizes in all in 2007. Her stable companion Sageburg edged her out of last month's Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp but Darjina didn't look quite at her peak that day and she ended up a target for Sageburg who takes her on again today.
The ex-Australian star Haradasun leads the O'Brien squad but his form tailed off after two Group One wins in 2007 and he looked to ruin his chance by sweating up on his European debut in the Lockinge.
Finsceal Beo looks like being the best bet for an Irish win but her Gallic rival Darjina may end up edging her out again.
Australian sprinters have won the last two renewals of the Kings Stand Stakes and Magnus can make it three in a row at the expense of the 2006 winner Takeover Target.
The two Aussie stars battled it out over six furlongs in Singapore on their last starts when Magnus looked to be inconvenienced by a wide draw.
There was only half a length between them at the line and Damien Oliver's mount looks worth another shout, especially since Takeover Target may be better at the longer sprint distance.
Dermot Weld has a single runner this afternoon and while the filly Silver Shoon is still a maiden after three starts her overall form looks good enough to figure strongly in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
Pat Smullen's mount was narrowly beaten in the Marble Hill on firm ground at the Curragh and her record also includes a second to the ultra-smart Cuais Gaire. Bushranger won his maiden at Tipperary and looks an improver but Silver Shoon appears the best Irish bet to break her duck in style.
Art Connoisseur looked ultra-smart in two starts in April and has a favourable low draw in the Coventry while the 2006 Queen's Vase runner-up Galient is handicapped to go well in the Ascot Stakes and looked a rejuvenated character during a three-race hurdle career last winter.
Selections
2.30 Darjina
3.05 Magnus
3.45 Henrythenavigator
4.20 Art Connoisseur
4.55 Galient
5.30 Silver Shoon
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