VC bet Nunthorpe Stakes (August 24th)

Since the market was formed for the VC bet Nunthorpe Stakes, Irish raider Dandy Man has headed the market and is a top-priced 5/2 with bet365 and Hills at the time of writing, but as short as 2/1 with Ladbrokes. Con Collins' charge has quickly established himself in the upper echelon of the current crop of sprinters, and is by miles the best member of the Classic generation over the minimum trip. Dandy Man signalled his arrival at the summit of the speedsters tree when getting the better of Pivotal Flame and co. in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket's Guineas meeting, before running a cracking race in defeat when fourth in the King's Stand, in which he was drawn on the 'wrong' side, but for which he would have surely won. Just 12 days later, the son of 2001 Nunthorpe hero Mozart, reasserted his authority by beating Benbaun and Osterhase in a Listed race at The Curragh and, with the ground most likely to be on the fast side on the Knavesmire come August 24, Dandy Man will take the world of beating. However, last year's winner of this Group 1 sprint, La Cucaracha, returned to her best in the Group 3 Audi Stakes at Glorious Goodwood where she came from well off the pace to cosily beat Desert Lord by three parts of a length. The margin of victory was in no way indicative of her superiority that day, as she cam from well back, had nowhere to go just over a furlong out, and quickened when the gap appeared to settle the race within a matter of strides. Now that she has reached concert pitch, the daughter of Piccolo is likely to prove an extremely tough nut to crack in this contest, and she rates an excellent value bet against the favourite at 9/2 with Stan James. The Barry Hills-trained mare was having her first run for over nine months when finishing second to Dandy Man of the ten that raced on the far side group in the King's Stand. Dandy Man had already had two starts during the current campaign so went into that race with a definite fitness advantage over La Cucaracha. Furthermore, the selection was less than a length adrift of Dandy Man at Royal Ascot, yet will enjoy a 4lb pull in this race, so there are genuine grounds for being optimistic that La Cucaracha will reverse the placings this time. Osterhase, a best-priced 15/2 with Coral, was beaten a length and a half into third behind Dandy Man in the King Of Beers Stakes on Irish Derby Day and he appears to be as good as ever at the age of seven. However, despite being 3lb better off with that winner and underlining his wellbeing by winning twice subsequently, he lacks that extra touch of class that Dandy Man and La Cucaracha possess, so might have to settle for a minor role on this occasion. Benbaun, who split Dandy Man and Osterhase at The Curragh, is such a consistent, reliable horse, and none deserve to win a race like this more than he does. But he remains vulnerable at this level and, like Osterhase, it's hard to see him beating the big two. It will be interesting to see if Golden Jubilee and July Cup victor Le Arcs drops back to the minimum trip for this, although he seems so well suited by a stiff six furlongs that one wonders if he has the speed for a sharp five like this, while Amadeus Wolf, winner of the Gimcrack here as a juvenile, shaped as though dropping back to this trip would suit when third in the Prix Maurice de Gheest recently. Desert Lord and Moss Vale both have each-way claims, but this race really should boil down to a straight fight between Dandy Man and La Cucaracha with the gallant mare gaining the confident verdict. Verdict - 2pts La Cucaracha @ 9/2 (Stan James)