So far this season, the top races have been dominated by three-year-olds, and EVASIVE can further emphasize that point by winning Saturday's Hungerford Stakes over 7f (3.10).
Relatively unexposed, he finished sixth behind Sea The Stars in the 2000 Guineas, just four and a half lengths behind the dual Classic winner, and then took fourth behind Mastercraftsman in Royal Ascot's St James's Palace Stakes. That's rock-solid form which gives him every chance at this lower level and he's likely to do even better for the switch back to 7f - his two wins have both been achieved over this trip, including the Horris Hill over course and distance - with more positive riding tactics helping as well.
This is his first run for Saeed Bin Suroor after being purchased by Sheikh Mohammed in July, but that's hardly a negative. The stable is in flying form - seven winners last week including the Sweet Solera Stakes victory of Long Lashes at Newmarket - and my Newmarket mole informs me the colt has been working exceptionally well, while the presence of Frankie Dettori in the saddle is the icing on the cake.
Granted, bookmakers are likely to make him a warm favourite to win at Newbury, but I've done myself out of too many winners of late looking for 'value' alternatives to the jolly, so it's a case of getting stuck into this one at best morning-line price. It's worth noting here that several bookmakers - bet365, Stan James, William Hill and Ladbrokes - are now best odds guaranteed, so if either of them are best price it makes sense to give them your business.
Earlier on the card, KITE WOOD - another classy Godolphin three-year-old - can win the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2.35). He too has been burning up the gallops after returning to something like his best form at Newmarket last time. Dettori rode a peach of a race on him that day, judging the pace to perfection, and that win will have done the horse's confidence the world of good. Should the ground firm up, he'll be re-routed to Tuesday's Great Voltiguer at York but that seems unlikely.
I see he's 10/1 for the St Leger with Coral which, given the doubts about the current favourite Harbinger and fancied Alwaary turning up, has to be worth an ante post punt at this stage.
Recommended Bets:
Evasive 4pts @ best morning-line price
Kite Wood 2pts @ best morning-line price
Kite Wood (St Leger) 1pt each-way @ 10/1 Coral