Coronation Cup Preview

Shirocco is much the best horse of the six entries for the Vodafone Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday and, commensurate with this status, he's a top-priced 8/11 favourite for the twelve furlong, Group 1 contest. Andre Fabre's charge did be a massive favour when landing the Breeders' Cup Turf last season, and he made an impressive reappearance when easily landing the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket's Guineas meeting. However, while it may seem like a case of clutching at straws, there are a couple of reasons why I believe the five-year-old is worth opposing. Firstly, the ground - although he won on good ground as a juvenile, all four of his subsequent victories have been gained under testing conditions. Secondly, the son of Monsun is at his best in a strongly-run race so, with no obvious pacesetter among the six entries for this valuable event, he could prove vulnerable. Kieren Fallon produced a masterful riding performance to steer Yeats to victory in this race last term and the Irishman can repeat the dose aboard Ace, a 5/1 chance with Stan James, this year. Admittedly, he was beaten fair and square when under two lengths second to Shirocco in the Breeders' Cup Turf last October, but the conditions came up very testing at Belmont Park and, under the circumstances, the Danehill entire ran a cracking race. It has to be said, he's not the easiest to win with - he hasn't got his head in front in his last ten starts, winless since August 2004 - but it's impossible to crab his form and his attitude, and he shaped well on his reappearance at The Curragh on May 1. Despite being beaten at odds of 4/5 there, it was a still a sound effort on Ace's part to finish one length second to a race-fit rival in the shape of Alayan, over a trip (ten furlongs) which he now finds a tad sharp these days. Ace possess plenty of tactical speed, is at his best on genuine good ground and, all in all, he looks well worth taking on the jolly with. Ouija Board is returning to the scene of her greatest triumph to date - a seven length romp in the 2004 Oaks - and, having ran a cracking race when a close-up third to Irridescence over a mile and a quarter at Sha Tin, she enters this race with strong claims. However, no filly has won this race in the last decade - and only two since 1998 have prevailed, Triptych in 1988 and In The Groove in '91. Sure, stats are their to be defied, but it's never easy for fillies to take on the colts, especially at this time of year, and she may have to settle for a place on this occasion. Notable Guest, who was runner-up to Day Flight at Sandown last time, looks sure to make his presence felt in Pattern races this term, but he looks out of his depth in this grade, while Enforcer and Something Exciting look completely outclassed at this level. Verdict: 1pt Ace @ 5/1 (Stan James)