Paul Ferguson has three selections for us on Sunday; Dream Ahead 2.45 Deauville, Frederick Engels 4.05 Curragh, Deacon Blues 5.05 Curragh: Deacon Blues. Compare odds and bet
After bouncing back to his best in the July Cup Dream Ahead (2:45) is fancied to land the Group 1 Prix Maurice De Gheest in France on Sunday.
A winner at Deauville as a two-year-old, conditions are in his favour here with the ground likely to be on the soft side, which is ideal.
Trading at 5/4 (industry price) on Saturday evening, the bookies may try and get him on Sunday morning, with the July Cup form having taken a couple of knocks and he may be a bigger price on the PMU.
Over at the Curragh Aidan O’Brien is trying to win yet another Phoenix Stakes with Power and the Coventry Stakes winner is sure to be involved. However, he only had a neck to spare over Roman Soldier at Ascot, whereas Frederick Engels (4:05) beat the same opponent by a length when taking the July Stakes last time.
David Brown’s Iceman colt is improving all the time and saw the trip out really well at Newmarket, so he rates the value at 7/2 with Ladbrokes.
July Cup third Hitchens will be popular in the Phoenix Sprint if Dream Ahead wins in France, but in Deacon Blues (5:05) he faces a fast improving sprinter and James Fanshawe’s four-year-old is fancied to complete the hat-trick, providing Johnny Murtagh with a big-race double.
The Wokingham winner took the step up to Group company in his stride when taking the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last month and he can defy the penalty.
Sunday’s selection:
2:45 Deauville (France) Dream Ahead (5/4 Bet365 / PMU)
4:05 Curragh: Frederick Engels (7/2 Ladbrokes)
5:05 Curragh: Deacon Blues (5/6 Boylesports)
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