Racing Post Trophy 2013 Preview

Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won this race on seven previous occasions including with recent champions St Nicholas Abbey (2009) and Camelot (2011). The Racing Post Trophy is often seen as more of a guide to the following years Derby than to the 2000 Guineas with the emphasis on stamina in testing ground.

The Favourites

Following the withdrawal of Richard Hannon’s Toormore the bookmakers have found it difficult to split three supplemented colts for Saturday’s feature race. Roger Varian’s Kingston Hill is just favourite at 7-2 with Bet365 following a fluent victory at Newmarket’s Cesarewitch meeting. The son of Mastercraftsman proved that he could handle the soft ground that day and beat a useful sort in Oklahoma City, the winner of a valuable sales race on his previous start.

Godolphin has some promising two-year-olds this season and have supplemented the unbeaten Pinzolo for trainer Charlie Appleby. He is a big imposing type who looks certain to handle the conditions here and comes with maximum stable confidence.

Also in contention to start favourite is O’Brien’s Century, the winner of a maiden race at the Curragh recently. He is currently a 33-1 chance for the 2014 Derby and has not among the stable stars at Ballydoyle but that could all change if he wins on Saturday.

The Challengers

Richard Hannon feared that the soft ground would blunt the speed of ante-post favourite Toormore so instead relies on the unbeaten Chief Barker. This colt has been workmanlike in winning his three races rather than spectacular but beat the subsequent Cheveley Parks winner Chriselliam at Haydock on his most recent outing.

Sir Michael Stoute has had a quiet season by his standards but has supplemented his 11-length Salisbury winner Snow Sky, the mount of James Doyle. He was expected to win at Haydock but was surprisingly beaten after travelling well for much of the race.

Mark Johnston’s Somewhat has been running consistently well but is not certain to be as effective on softer ground whilst The Great Gatsby represents Doncaster’s Champagne Stakes form. He has not looked the easiest of rides in his most recent races but could spring a surprise if things go his way.

The Outsiders

Aidan O’Brien’s main hopes rest with Century but he also saddles Buonarroti and Johann Strauss. Buonarroti is likely to be up with the pace having led early on before cruising to an eight and a half-length success at Tipperary on his second start. Johann Strauss is a son of High Chaparral and was beaten at odds-on when failing to catch Sniper at Naas over seven furlongs. This longer trip could bring about some improvement.

Johnny Murtagh’s Altruistic has each-way claims on his recent third but Dolce N Karama looks well out of his depth. Eleven go to post with the race due off at 3.50pm.