Black-Type Analysis: Island Hopping Faces Stiff Test In Stanerra

Drawn To Dream | Arqana

Wednesday, Fairyhouse, post time: 18:00, DARLEY IRISH EBF STANERRA STAKES-G3, €42,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 14fT

Field: Comic Book (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Drawn To Dream (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), Enfranchise (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Goodie Two Shoes (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Lemsairbat (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Royal Entry (Ire) (Fracas {Ire}), Santorini Star (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Umala (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

TDN Verdict: A race that Ballydoyle have supplied the winner of in five of the last 10 runnings, but Island Hopping is not one of the stable stars and is up against it taking on some smart older fillies and mares. Goodie Two Shoes comes into this on the back of clear-cut wins in the Listed Vintage Tipple Stakes and Listed His Majesty's Plate and is the obvious call, but it is interesting that William Haggas sends across Santorini Star who is up in trip after some decent efforts at a mile and a half. [Tom Frary].

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 15:35, THE PRINCESS OF WALES'S STAKES-G2, £125,000, 3yo/up, 12fT

Field: Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Palladium (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko).

TDN Verdict: This should be easy pickings for Ghostwriter after his third in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, where he showed that the trip held no fears. William Buick has chosen El Cordobes of the Appleby pair which is probably a hint worth taking, especially as the stable do so well on their home terrain at this meeting. [Tom Frary].

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 14:25, THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN JULY STAKES-G2, £100,000, 2yo, 6fT

Field: Brussels (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Comical Point (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Do Or Do Not (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Jel Pepper (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Maximized (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Zavateri (Ire) (Without Parole {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Godolphin's unbeaten Woodcote winner Maximised is taken on by Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Brussels in a fascinating encounter. They probably have it between them, but the surprise Coventry runner-up Do Or Do Not has the best form having got closest to Gstaad at Royal Ascot. [Tom Frary].

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