tracked winner until 2f out, ridden and soon weakened
pulled hard, bumped 1st furlong, held up, one pace final 2f
held up last, switched right and headway 2f out, soon ridden and kept on same pace
keen, not much room 1st furlong, prominent, chased winner 2f out, soon ridden and no impression
The first really significant pointer towards this season's Ultimatebet.com 2000 Guineas and, as usual, a high-class field has been drawn together to stake their claims. Not least with Three Valleys, who will be bidding to atone for his short-head defeat inflicted by Milk It Mick in the Dewhurst Stakes last October. The Diesis colt possesses an electric turn of foot and his trainer has always been confident that a mile will suit his rising star. However, the Wiltshire-based trainer has been honest enough to express that he anticipates Three Valleys will come on greatly for his first outing of the season and, therefore, he is reluctantly passed over today. In contrast, the Richard Hannon-team are confident about the prospects for Fantastic View this term and, as he is already proven over the trip, the son of Distant View is marginally preferred here. Haafhd, who has to be seriously considered on his third in the Dewhurst, along with Horris Hill Stakes winner Peak To Creek, are others that have rock-solid profiles and are worthy of a place on any shortlist. While Imperial Stride is in the right hands to progress as a three-year-old and he does not have too much improvement to find to be involved in the shake-up. The field is completed by Fancy Foxtrot, who needs to have come on in leaps and bounds through the winter. However, he at least has experience of the trip and hails from a yard that are flying at the moment. The Danehill Dancer colt will also benefit from the assistance of Frankie Dettori's skill from the saddle and he can be relied upon to at least run an honest race for future reference. However, Fantastic View has the best form on offer at a mile to date and he sets a very high standard for the rest to aim for. The Hannon team had looked at both the Greenham and the Ballysax as potential starting points for their charge this season and have never been afraid to travel to search out the best options for their runners. However, it is no shock that they have stayed closer to home as they have farmed this race in recent times with all three previous winner since the 2000 campaign. Therefore, Fantastic View is expected to have undergone the ideal preparation and maintain the impressive strike-rate today. The three-year-old only does what is required of him though, and it will be no surprise to see Three Valleys finish almost upsides when they cross the line.
