An international field of proven Group
One winners may be in line for Friday's QIPCO Falmouth Stakes but bookmakers reckon the Newmarket feature can provide Jim Bolger's star filly Lucida with an elusive top-flight success.
Runner-up in the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas in May, and a slightly unlucky third in last month’s Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, initial ante-post reaction from Paddy Power to the likely Falmouth line-up has been to install the Irish hope as an 11-4 favourite.
This week's Newmarket action culminates in Saturday's Darley July Cup, in which Eddie Lynam is eyeing up back-to-back victories with both Anthem Alexander and Sole Power possible starters, while Dermot Weld's Mustajeeb has been ruled out.
The Group One action begins with the Falmouth, a top-class race since 2004 with no Irish-trained winner of the mile contest since Michael Cunningham’s Rose Above won when it was known as the Child Stakes in 1979.
A trio of French fillies remain among the dozen entries still in contention to run, including the classic heroine Avenir Certain and André Fabre’s Fintry, while last year’s winner Integral and Clive Brittain’s Rizeena are among the home contingent.
Lucida is one of a trio of three-year-olds which also includes Fadhaayil, who Bolger’s star beat in last year’s Rockfel Stakes. Lucida’s near-misses in Group One races also include a second to Cursory Glance in 2014’s Moyglare Stud Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien plans to drop Cougar Mountain back to a mile after his Eclipse run behind Golden Horn at Sandown on Saturday, which came hours before Outstanding finished third in the Grade One Belmont Oaks in New York behind the impressive American filly Lady Eli.
Failed to improve
On the same card, Dermot Weld’s Postulation could manage only sixth in the Belmont Derby behind Force The Pass.
Cougar Mountain failed to improve on his Queen Anne Stakes third when upped to ten furlongs for the first time. O’Brien said: “We’ll go back in trip to a mile. Joseph [O’Brien] was saying to me he was only beaten two lengths in the Nunthorpe so in fairness we were maybe stretching it going a mile and a quarter.”
In contrast, Golden Horn’s next start is likely to see the Derby winner step back up to a mile and a half in the King George at Ascot later this month.
The colt’s owner Anthony Oppenheimer indicated that would be the plan, and also that Golden Horn is likely to be retired to stud at the end of this season.
His trainer John Gosden said: "I have got to watch the horse over the next week to 10 days and if everything is fine I will firm things up from there. It will be the King George we hope, but we will see."
Gosden also indicated that Golden Horn could be joined in the midsummer all-aged Ascot spectacular by both Eagle Top and Mahsoob.
Golden Horn is as low as 4-6 favourite for the King George in some ante-post lists.
