Gallagher Group August Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 2m 35.77s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Alounak²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 114| D

5/2

Smart horse. 2¾ lengths fifth of 6 to Pablo Escobarr in Glorious Stakes at Goodwood (12f, good to firm, 5/1) 29 days ago, meeting trouble after racing freely. Should be back on his game.

Form: 25-6255

(5)

Communique¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 111

11/1

Smart horse. Seven wins from 27 Flat runs. 14½ lengths last of 7 to Hukum in Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury (13.3f, good to soft, 16/1) 14 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 582267

(2)

Desert Encounter^h²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 113| BF| CD

10/3

Smart gelding. C&D winner. Respectable ¾-length second of 6 to Pablo Escobarr in Glorious Stakes (11/4) at Goodwood (12f, good to firm) 29 days ago, unsuited by way race developed. Needs solid gallop.

Form: 1-56732

(4)

Floating Artist⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: M Harley| T: R Hannon| OR: 105

15/2

Smart gelding. Good fifth of 16 in handicap at Royal Ascot (14.2f, good, 12/1) 73 days ago. Gelded since, so further progress not ruled out.

Form: 6/514-75

(6)

Le Don De Vie²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H Morrison| OR: 106

3/1

Smart gelding. Very good ¾-length third of 6 to Pablo Escobarr in Glorious Stakes at Goodwood (12f, good to firm, 13/2) 29 days ago. Improving all the time recently.

Form: 410-443

(3)

Sextant¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Louis Steward| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 107| CD

13/2

Smart gelding. C&D winner. 9½ lengths fifth of 7 to Hukum in Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury (13.3f, good to soft, 16/1) 14 days ago, left poorly placed. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 11412-5

Forecasts

Alounak (5/2), Le Don De Vie (3/1), Desert Encounter (10/3), Sextant (13/2), Floating Artist (15/2), Communique (11/1)

LE DON DE VIE was just behind Desert Encounter at Goodwood last time but looks the more progressive of that pair and is fully effective on testing ground, so he gets the marginal vote in this tightly-knit listed race. Alounak was further back in the field that day but didn't have much go his way, so he could get back to his best.