'Road To The Kentucky Derby' Conditions Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 19:11 | Winning time: 1m 37.74s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Ambient²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: David Egan| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 79

50/1

Runner-up four times from five starts for Roger Varian and fair third on debut for current connections last month. Has plenty to find on figures though and likely to find this much tougher.

Form:

(7)

Bobby Biscuit⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: S Dow| CD

14/1

Promsing start when fourth on debut (7f) here in September then stepped up to beat previous winner Lawn Ranger (runs in 6.40) in driving finish last time. Can win more races and not dismissed out of hand at this higher level.

Form:

(3)

Court House⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 92| D

7/2

Well bred Dawn Approach colt. Very green and disappointed first two starts but has won last two as he has got his act together. Open to further improvement and won't be far away.

Form:

(4)

Fortune's Pearl¹⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 100

3/1

Did well last term wining twice over 7f then not at all disgraced when fifth to Elarqam in Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket in September. Has to prove he stays this trip but brings the best 2017 form into this race.

Form:

(5)

Gronkowski^b²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: J Noseda| D

9/4

300,000 guineas paid for him at last year's Breeze Up's and looked expensive after disappointing first two starts. Blinkers applied and won next two including easy success at Newcastle last month. Sure to be there or thereabouts.

Form:

(1)

Three Weeks⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: W J Haggas| OR: 89| D

4/1

Hinted at ability on debut in November and has done well since, winning both subsequent starts. Won with plenty in hand at Newcastle in January and remains open to further improvement. Yard in fine form.

Form:

(6)

Ventura Knight¹³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95| D

12/1

Hardy colt who won 4-11 last term, ending with victory at Doncaster in decent mile nursery handicap. Interesting to see how he fares this term and no reason why he shouldn't be in the mix with yard among the winners.

Form:

Forecasts

Gronkowski (9/4), Fortune's Pearl (3/1), Court House (7/2), Three Weeks (4/1), Ventura Knight (12/1), Bobby Biscuit (14/1), Ambient (50/1)

This valuable mile conditions event has attracted some interesting contenders with a case able to be made for at least six of them. GRONKOWSKI has come good of late and seems well suited by this surface. His win last time suggested there could be more to come and he is narrowly preferred to Fortune's Pearl and Court House, both of whom bring decent form into the race. Three Weeks is another horse with a future and can be expected to go well, while both Bobby Biscuit and Ventura Knight cannot be ruled out of the equation either.