No Excuse is the answer

13 April 2012

Sir Michael Stoute was distinctly out of form this time last week, but that's old hat now. Prior to Comfy's impressive Acomb success three days ago, the eminent Newmarket trainer had gone 12 days and 24 runners without sniffing victory. But he was back in business with the weighty double of Tough Speed and Artillery at York yesterday.

Tomorrow, he can extend his winning mood to Goodwood's Celebration Mile - a race he's won twice in the past four years, with Among Men in 1997 and Medicean 12 months ago. Both victories really put those three-year-olds on the miling map and it could be the same for lightly raced No Excuse Needed.

Due to begin his season in the UAE Derby, this colt picked up an injury and only made his seasonal debut mid-June. That was a baptism of fire behind Black Minnaloushe the St James's Palace Stakes, but he may have been placed bar for being hampered and then blocked.

He encountered a tactically improved Noverre in the Sussex Stakes over this course and distance, making a decisive move over a furlong out but then swamped by the winner's turn of foot. Yet Black Minnaloushe and Olden Times, both ahead of him at Royal Ascot, were beaten that day.

Proven form at this tricky track stands No Excuse Needed in good stead. He also won the Group Three Vintage Stakes over a furlong shorter as a juvenile here last year. He handles fast ground and faces nothing of the calibre of Novere.

Tamburlaine is also a Group One runner-up, but the 2,000 Guineas pales by comparison with the Sussex. Winner Golan hasn't raced over a mile since, third Frenchmans Bay and fifth Red Carpet have been sidelined and fourth Minardi exposed as a nonstayer. Also-rans who have found success did so at different trips.

Sticky ground was Tamburlaine's undoing in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, but he plainly wasn't good enough when seventh in the St James's Palace. He was unsuited by the steady early pace set by eventual winner, Atavus, when second in the Hungerford last time, but placed well enough to challenge if able.

Hungerford third, Warningford, may improve past him. James Fanshawe's charge, in the form of his life aged seven, was returning from a three-month break on that occasion. Seven furlongs had seemed his optimum, but his excellent Lockinge second to Medicean grants him real place claims.

But Ascension could push the selection most. This filly was a Group Three winner as a juvenile and, sidelined until earlier this month with muscular problems, made a startlingly good comeback when taking Deauville's Group Two Prix d'Astarte.

She's burdened with a 3lb penalty for that here but can only progress.

Hawkeye is pick of the Aidan O'Brien-trained quartet. Only the Coolmore factory farm outplayed Stoute at York this week, making very real the prospect of an overseas handler winning our domestic trainers' championship for the first time since Vincent O'Brien in 1977.

This colt is relatively unexposed but a line through Maumee suggests he improved markedly between his last two starts. The form amounts to little, but he could be anything.

Bach has been best over ten furlongs this term. Connections pinpointed Canada's Atto Mile after he won a Curragh Group Two last Sunday but are quite capable of diverting this busy colt here. He's held by the selection on the Sussex form, though.

Only a slow pace put Bonnard in such flattering proximity to the money in the Prix Jacques le Marois last Sunday. Darwin, who ran on Tuesday, is ill-equipped even for the role of pacemaker.

Nicobar will struggle under a penalty for his unexpected Sandown Group Two win earlier this year - he needs softer ground. Munir appeared determined to finish second here last time, overtaking eventual third Mull Of Kintyre only when Fath sailed past for victory.

Selections: 1, No Excuse Needed; 2, Ascension; 3, Warningford.

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