Port Douglas is as certain to make one of two places in the group Chester Vase over 12 furlongs of ‘good to soft’ ground this afternoon as stable-companion, US Ranger, is of winning it, isn’t he?
Aidan O’Brien’s number one choice, mount of Ryan Moore, is already favourite for the Epsom Derby next month; his three-quarters of a length verdict over Aasheq in a Curragh maiden thirty-two days ago had the so-called maestro eulogising. Why would 105-rated Port Douglas be in this line-up?
Is he being brought over for another of those ludicrous pace-making roles, thus making him a ‘sacrificial lamb’ or is the Coolmore mob intending to let Port Dougles run on his merits?
That could cause a problem because this Galileo colt was beaten only five lengths in the group one ‘Racing Post’ over the Doncaster mile last October, when he was indeed a pacemaker for a couple of other O’Brien-trained fancies, which traded much lower than his 20/1 starting price; talk about getting their knickers in a twist!
It’s a joke this pace-making lark, totally confusing for jockeys especially and with once-raced U S Ranger distinctly lacking in experience Post Douglas may well get loose on the lead.
High Grounds isn’t unfancied!
Followers of Richard ‘winning machine’ Fahey could well be in for Celebration in the three-y-o handicap over six furlongs.
After perusing this 14-runner dash (too many given the contours of the Roodee!) we’re convinced that Celebration, from stall seven, is clear ‘best-in’ and a sporting each-way selection.
This is the only flat meeting and we’re concentrating on it 100 per cent; four juming fixtures are an aside because nowadays hand race-times seem to be so inaccurate and computing them involves guesswork; never guess, make sure you know, and that goes for everything in life!