3 minute read

Mighty Ulysses can provide Frankie Dettori with a high-profile win on his first day back riding for the Gosden team since their post-Ascot sabbatical in the Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket.

Much has been written and said about what happened at Royal Ascot – or rather afterwards – but the pair have clearly resolved any differences.

It would have been a shame if one of racing's biggest partnerships had ended in such fashion but it now appears the 51-year-old Dettori is set for a final swansong before he eventually calls time on a brilliant career.

Dettori thrives at the bigger meetings and it would be just like him to dominate proceedings at Headquarters.

Mighty Ulysses has run four times this season and once connections realised he did not stay beyond a mile in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom, he has improved with every performance.

He went close in a big Haydock handicap off top-weight but ran way above market expectations at Ascot when beaten just three-quarters of a length in the St James's Palace Stakes.

Dettori did nothing wrong that day, but he will be doubly determined to make sure he brings him home in front on this occasion and a reproduction of that effort will be good enough.

Persian Force can get the better of Little Big Bear in the Close Brothers July Stakes.

Richard Hannon's youngster is on course to be one of the best Brocklesby winners of all time, and found just Archie Watson's Bradsell too good in the Coventry Stakes.

There was no disgrace in that and while Little Big Bear was an Ascot winner in the Windsor Castle Stakes, that race is traditionally the weaker of the Royal meeting's juvenile events.

Masekela massively outran his odds when fourth in the Derby and logic suggests he will take all the beating in the Bahrain Trophy – but slight preference is for Zechariah, who was only just reeled in by Eldar Eldarov in the Queen's Vase over one-mile-six.

The winner remained unbeaten and is among the favourites for the St Leger and that was a big return to form for Martyn and Freddie Meade's three-year-old.

He had beaten Irish Derby winner Westover last year but had disappointed on his first two outings of this campaign.

Ascot showed he was back on good terms with himself and we know he stays the trip.

Yibir is the clear form pick in the Princess of Wales's Close Brothers Stakes but he has been finding ways to lose this season and can be taken on with Mostahdaf.

Another trained by John and Thady Gosden, Mostahdaf has finished second in his last two races, there is no disgrace in losing to Bay Bridge and Broome.

That was just his first run over a mile and a half in the Hardwicke so he remains unexposed at the trip.

Khanjar looks to be on a steep upward curve for the excellent William Haggas and is taken to defy a 9lb rise in the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap.

Lightly raced, he had loads in hand of another unexposed sprinter in Azure Blue and the two meet again.

Despite the revised terms, Khanjar is taken to confirm his superiority.

The booking of Ryan Moore on George Boughey's Evocative Spark looks telling as the three-year-old takes on his elders in the Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap.

Karl Burke has a good team of juveniles this season. His Sir Robin bolted up on his second start at Catterick and can defy a penalty in Doncaster's PPM Barnsley Novices' Stakes.

The Haggas-trained Razeyna has been beaten a short prices the last twice but may find life easier in the British EBF Fillies' Handicap at Carlisle.

American In Paris was beaten just a short head on debut and while connections would have liked to have won, it means they have experience in the bank and can run in the Win Races With Jonathan Portman EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice Stakes without being penalised.

Lenny's Spirit can give Ed Dunlop another winner in the Coral Proud Supporter Of British Racing Handicap at Epsom.

SELECTIONS:

CARLISLE: 1.40 Timbukone, 2.10 Elladora, 2.45 Razeyna, 3.20 Gareeb, 3.55 Ninky Nonk, 4.30 Million Thanks, 5.05 Strangersontheshore.

DONCASTER: 1.00 Infiniti, 1.30 Primo's Comet, 2.00 Latin Five, 2.35 Noble Title, 3.10 Sir Robin, 3.45 Point Lynas, 4.20 Snapcracklepop.

EPSOM: 5.53 Caius Chorister, 6.23 Butterfly Effect, 6.53 Essme, 7.23 Sterling Knight, 7.53 Lenny's Spirit, 8.23 Rita Rana.

LEOPARDSTOWN: 5.30 Dame Kiri, 6.00 Apple Of His Eye, 6.30 All In The Mind, 7.00 Tudor Manor, 7.30 Flying Dolphin, 8.00 Rosscarbery, 8.30 Sandhurst.

LIMERICK: 5.15 Clarinbridge, 5.45 Half Nutz, 6.15 Le Jardin Secret, 6.45 Helpmeout, 7.15 Cosmic Vega, 7.45 Saddle In The Rain, 8.15 All Class.

NEWBURY: 5.38 Thrave, 6.08 Priors Dell, 6.38 American In Paris, 7.08 Maytree Respite, 7.38 Special Envoy, 8.08 Australian Angel, 8.38 Strike.

NEWMARKET: 1.20 Miss New York, 1.50 Zechariah, 2.25 Persian Force, 3.00 Khanjar, 3.35 Mostahdaf, 4.10 MIGHTY ULYSSES (NAP), 4.40 Evocative Spark.

DOUBLE: Mighty Ulysses and Persian Force.

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