Bull in charge at Newmarket

July 11, 2007 - Janine Sorenson The main event on the second day of Newmarket's July meeting on Thursday is the Group 2 Prince Of Wales's WBX.com Stakes and it's a fascinating renewal, with the top-class Sixties Icon bidding to bounce back from a below par display in the Coronation Cup, but he has to concede weight to all bar one of his 11 rivals.
  
However, Jeremy Noseda's charge failed to fire recently at Epsom. That was the first time he's ran a stinker in a nine-race career, so can easily be forgiven that indifferent effort. But he's going to be pretty short – probably around the 2-1 mark – and, consequently, my advice is to take him on.
 
The one that interests me most is Papal Bull. Admittedly, this enigmatic colt is a risky betting proposition owing to his enigmatic tendencies, and he does need to bounce back from two lacklustre efforts so far this term, but there's little doubt that he possesses the ability to win and the 14/1 with Bet chronicle is way too big.
 
It is worrying that Sir Michael Stoute's charge has failed to reproduce the form of his King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last season in four subsequent outings and his propensity to get worked up before races is equally disconcerting. However, his trainer wouldn't persevere with him if he didn't feel that the colt's engine was still intact.
 
Indeed, Stoute doesn't suffer fools in his Freemason Lodge yard and his string is now in good form following a slow start to the season. Furthermore, conditions are ideal for Papal Bull, who beat Red Rocks and Sixties Icon when landing the King Edward VII, and was sent off as favourite to beat Sixties Icon in the Jockey Club Stakes in April.
 
In receipt of 5lb from the market leader, Papal Bull has to have a big chance – certainly a far bigger chance than his odds imply. And I know that champion jockey Ryan Moore, fresh from his display of tactical brilliance aboard Notnowcato in the Eclipse last weekend, is looking forward to partnering the son of Montjeu in this contest.
 
Lucarno receives a healthy 18lb from Sixties Icon and the three-year-old clearly commands a good deal of respect. He was a fine fourth in the Derby before losing little caste in defeat when outbattled by Boscobel in this year's renewal of the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot. However, there still lurks a doubt with regard to stamina.
 
John Gosden's charge was travelling best of all turning for home at the royal meeting and looked for all the world as though he was going to swoop past his rivals and score readily. But while he ran on well enough in the closing stages, he failed to quicken and I suspect that he'll be suited by a drop back to ten furlongs.
  
Verdict: 1pt Papal Bull @ 14/1 (Bet Chronicle)

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