White Birch was a high-class three-year-old last season, and he has improved again this term.
Winner of the Ballysax Stakes, a key Derby trial, on his debut last season, John Murphy’s horse was a little unlucky in the Dante when he went down by a neck to The Foxes, and he ran a big race in the Derby to finish third behind Auguste Rodin.
This year, he has gone through the grades, Group 3 Alleged Stakes, Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes, Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. He travelled like the most likely winner from a long way out in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, and he came away from Auguste Rodin inside the final furlong.
He goes well on easy ground, but his big run in the Dante last year was on fast ground, and he may not be as ground dependent as is generally accepted. He is just a top-class individual who is probably still progressing, and a stiff 10 furlongs is probably optimal.
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