Golden Jubilee Stakes Preview - Royal Ascot (18th June)

ETLAALA CAN STRIKE JUBILEE GOLDSometimes it can come back to bite you when you write a horse off prematurely and many appear to have done just this with Etlaala. However, this could prove to be a big mistake and the son of Selkirk looks well worth a wager at 10-1 for the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot at York on Saturday 18th June.Don't forget, this colt looked potentially top class colt when readily beating Iceman and co. in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last September. Admittedly, he has blotted his copybook on a couple of occasions subsequently, but there were valid excuses for both of his indifferent displays.He simply did not act on the testing ground when a well-beaten favourite in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October, and failed to run his race on his seasonal reappearance in the Craven Stakes at the same venue in April where he pulled hard during the race and was later found to have mucus on his lungs..Barry Hills' charge reverted to sprinting in the five-furlong Temple Stakes at Sandown where he run far better than his finishing position of seventh suggests. Badly drawn in stall two - the first five home were drawn nine or above - Etlaala missed the break, met with trouble in running, had to be switched around the field, yet was still beaten less than five lengths.That was a cracking effort, and one which suggested that the Golden Jubilee trip of six furlongs could prove ideal. We know Etlaala possesses a good cruising speed and a potent turn-of-foot, as those attributes were there for all to see when he landed the Champagne Stakes. This race lacks a star; Somnus, although classy, will not be suited by the prevailing fast ground, while the only other conceivable danger, Ad Valorem, will be having his first start since winning Middle Park Stakes last October and is sure to need the run.Outside of these three, this race does not match the usual blueprint for a Group One dash. Balmont was a smart performer as a two-year-old, but has failed to recapture those glory days since. He did run a solid race when beaten two short heads into third behind Celtic Mill in the Temple Stakeswith Etlaala back in seventh. However, he was better drawn and had the run of the race. I'd be surprise if he finished anywhere near, let alone in front of the selection this time. Elsewhere, last year's third Cape Of Good Hope looks set to run in the King's Stand Stakes earlier in the week before contesting this race, as he did last year. The Hong Kong-based raider is very smart. But, drawing upon a stat I eluded to in the King's Stand preview, he has won just one of his last 26 starts, a disconcerting fact which gives him an overall vulnerable look.Ashdown Express is always on the premises in the six-furlongs sprints, but the balance of evidence suggests he comes up short at Group One level, a remark which also applies to the Roger Charlton-trained Avonbridge. The same is also true of La Cucaracha and Quito.Betting verdict: 1pt win Etlaala @ 10/1 (Ladbrokes)