TimeformBlog

Canford Cliffs was the leading 3-y-o miler in 2010 and looked as good as ever when landing the Lockinge with plenty to spare on reappearance. Won at this meeting last 2 years and solid claims of doing so again.

Cape Blanco was an Irish Derby and Irish Champion winner in his 3-y-o campaign, but something to prove following a couple of defeats this year and vulnerable to speedier rivals back at shorter trip now.

Cityscape progressed well in 2010, signing off with a Group 3 win at Newmarket in October. Pleasing return when third at Sandown in April, but big gulf in class to bridge here, though easing ground will help.

Ransom Note has improved again since winning the Britannia Handicap at this meeting in 2010, but comprehensively beaten by Goldikova in a Group 1 last time and hard to see things being any different here.

Rio de la Plata was a five-time winner in 2010, including a couple of Group 1s in Italy, but only third in Group 3 Diomed at Epsom on return and needs others to underperform if he is to make a serious impact.

Flash Dance is a useful mare and ran well when acting as Goldikova's pacemaker at Longchamp last time. Similar role on the cards here.

Goldikova is an exceptional mare who arrives here on back of a similar prep to when winning this race last year. Obvious claims of gaining 14th Group/Grade 1 success with pacemaker in to help this time.

Timeform 1-2-3
1. Canford Cliffs
2. Goldikova
3. Cape Blanco

Timeform's View: If either Canford Cliffs or Goldikova is on their game nothing else will get a look in. The former has it in him to scale even greater heights this year and is taken to lower the colours of the exceptional French mare.

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