The Tracker

3:00 Goodwood · Goodwood Day Five review

Third defending her Lillie Langtry crown, and beaten by the ride rather than by the horses. She was held up far too far back and given the front pair a huge amount of rope, on an afternoon when nothing was coming from behind. She then had to spend her entire finishing effort between about the three furlong pole and the one and a half, so there was nothing left for the last bit. Run at a normal tempo from a sensible position we think she wins it.

Watch for Her next start over a mile and six, ideally ridden closer to the pace. The bare third is not the measure of her.

5:00 Goodwood · Goodwood Day Two review

Seventh at 11/2 in the Charlton Handicap, and a far better run than that reads. He was left completely isolated over on the far side with only one rival for company, with nothing to run at and nowhere near enough time to do anything about it. Oisin Murphy made a smart move trying to use Sir Garfield to tow him into the race, but that one was never close enough. He was on the wrong side and still ran a really good race.

Watch for His next start off what should be an unchanged mark, since the handicapper is unlikely to do anything on the back of a seventh. He wants a race where he is not stranded away from the main action.

1:10 Ascot · King George Day review

A huge run in second on her racecourse debut, and desperately unlucky with it. Just as the winner was asked to go and win, Izuba was hampered behind a weakening rival at the crucial moment, losing momentum and position. Given a lovely hands-and-heels ride from there, she flew home and was closing all the way to the line. If they raced again next week we would be on her.

Watch for Her next start, with a cleaner passage and the experience of a first run behind her. She looks well ahead of the bare form of this.

6:01 Southwell

Second again, a second runner-up finish in two starts since being gelded, and every run has pointed the same way. Weak in the market on his Chelmsford debut over seven furlongs last November and given a ride that told you nothing, woefully tailed off; better in both runs since without ever being asked a truly serious question. We have thought since that first night that handicaps were the plan all along.

Watch for The handicap mark he is given. Up in trip and into handicap company for Ralph Beckett, he looks sure to be given a mark he can win off.

6:30 Naas

Our top-rated in this listed race and a never-nearer second on just her third start. The best horse did not win: Dylan Browne McMonagle took far too long to get her out from behind a wall of three, while the winner made most of the running and got the clear passage she never had. Our ratings made her Royal Ascot seventh over five furlongs a very good effort, and this backs that form right up; she should really be two from three.

Watch for Another listed race, which is surely there for the taking with a clear run, before she goes back to group company.

5:30 Killarney

A newcomer by Frankel who finished second in a maiden of the type that generally works out well. Green as grass, barely knew what he was doing, yet still ran on really strongly at the finish.

Watch for His next start: if they ran this race again tomorrow you would be pretty confident he would win it, and he should be winning a maiden very soon.

6:50 Windsor

We do not often put winners in the tracker, but this debut deserves marking up massively. Keen early, sat in behind Note To Self with Oisin Murphy riding like a man happy with second, then carried across the track; even so, Murphy only had to nudge him past the runner-up rather than go for everything. Lots went wrong and he was still good enough to win.

Watch for Wherever he goes next: with a clean, professional run he is surely capable of much better than the bare form of this.

1:55 Ascot · Day 3 Review

Eighth at 40/1, expected to finish last and did nothing of the sort, there with every chance until the final half furlong. He just wants a much sharper five furlongs than Ascot.

Watch for A really sharp five, Chester ideal, perhaps a slight drop in class, or back to five at Windsor.

Still yet to drop in class, but he has been beaten the last twice and will now continue to slide down the handicap. He could be interesting the moment he drops to a Class 3.

2:27 Ascot · Day 3 Review

Our top-rated. Dropped out far too far back in a crawl and given too much to do, yet still flew home into fourth. Comfortably the best horse in the race to these eyes.

Watch for Any race run at a sensible gallop, or simply a more positive ride; he wins a race like this well with a pace to aim at.

3:45 York · Day 3 Review

Ran okay into fourth in the John Smith's Cup, never nearer; still a colt, yet to be gelded, and we think there is a race in him when it all falls right.

Watch for The autumn, where he ran at York last October; a similar race there, and whether gelding brings a bit more.

3:45 York · Day 3 Review

The clear eyecatcher in the John Smith's Cup. Travelled really well but got no run, shuffled well back after being short of room, and only came home gently in fifth; miles better than the bare form and well ahead of fourth-placed Castle Stuart on merit.

Watch for A similar handicap with a clear passage; he is a good deal better than his finishing position.

4:35 Newmarket · Day 3 Review

Second in the July Cup on ground quicker than ideal; there was even a doubt she would run. A multiple Group 1 filly once the ground comes up good.

Watch for Group 1 sprints on good ground or softer, when she is up to winning at the top level.

1:50 Newmarket · Day 2 Review

Keen third who did not get the smoothest of runs; beaten by the top-rated but firmly one to keep onside.

Watch for A stronger pace to aim at; he should win soon.

Has been to Newmarket since and finished third in a handicap without getting the run of the race. We think that race will work out quite well.

Mile Handicap, York · York & Newcastle Review

Looked the winner before being worn down into second in a steadily run race on a front-bias day; one to take out of it.

Watch for Very much one for the autumn: a return to York later in the season, ridden to get cover.

Has been to York and Thirsk since. As we said at the time, he is really an autumn horse, so it is from about now that he starts to interest us. A return to York in a few weeks looks the obvious place to start.

Mile Handicap, York · York & Newcastle Review

Ran on into third from off a steady pace on a front-bias day; the other to take out of the race.

Watch for Next time from off the pace, marked up for the bias.

Newcastle (all-weather) · York & Newcastle Review

Performance of the day, coming from well back against a strong front-running bias for a third straight all-weather win; a potential group horse on the surface.

Watch for All-weather group races such as the Chipchase; likely less keen back on turf.

Turned up in the Coral Stewards' Cup at Goodwood, which is not where we wanted him at all. He is an all-weather specialist and that is where our interest lies: watch for him when he goes back on the artificial surface.

Duke of Cambridge Stakes, Royal Ascot · Royal Ascot Eyecatchers

Very unlucky, denied a clear run then flew home, and bounced back from her Haydock stumble.

Watch for Fillies and mares races from a mile to 1m2f.

Stepped up in trip for the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and finished second. She probably ended up setting the race up for the winner from the front of the handicap, and she was also beaten by a very smart filly in Diamond Necklace.

Hardwicke Stakes, Royal Ascot · Royal Ascot Eyecatchers

Unlucky third when Soumillon lost his irons inside the final furlong; but for that he may have beaten the front two.

Watch for The King George at Ascot in July, which he won in 2024.

Ran in the King George at Ascot and was very much outclassed in what looked a strong renewal. An easier opportunity will need to be found if he is to get his head back in front.

Queen Anne Stakes, Royal Ascot · Royal Ascot Eyecatchers

Went too hard in front and was collared on the line; losing the lead cost him, and settling is the whole job.

Watch for One-mile Group 1s all season, once he learns to settle.

Went for the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on 29 July and finished third, beaten by two very good animals in Bow Echo and Gstaad. No disgrace whatsoever in that company.