Most Impressive Daddy Long Legs 240911

There was 3mm of water applied to the final 1m1f after racing on Friday, but it was a bright and breezy day and the ground remained quick.

This prestigious juvenile contest is named after a royal residence in Windsor Great Park and was traditionally staged at nearby Ascot. Following a controversial restructuring of the fixture list the race has been moved to Newmarket, although this isn´t the first time it´s been staged here - the track also played host in 2005 when Ascot was under reconstruction.

It´s a race that has predictably produced plenty of high-class types over the years, and although not long ago it went through a period of being unfashionable, it´s hard to argue with the quality of the last three editions. The 2008 running went to Jukebox Jury (dead-heated in this year´s Irish St Leger) with smart miler Cityscape in second, in 2009 Joshua Tree (Canadian International) had Vale Of York (Breeders´ Cup Juvenile) back in third, and last term Frankel had Treasure Beach (Irish Derby, Secretariat Stakes) behind.

This season´s race, though, looked weak. Again staged on the same weekend as the Beresford Stakes (1m juvenile Group 2 in Ireland), Aidan O´Brien was set to have three runners in both events, and despite this trio coming here with inferior RPRs to a couple of his runners in the Irish contest, the Ballydoyle trainer had the 1-2-3. The action unfolded in much the same way as had been the theme the previous day, with a prominent ride towards the far rail proving advantageous. The time was only 0.17 seconds slower than the Sun Chariot, although that looked modestly run.

This was a fifth win in the race for O´Brien with DADDY LONG LEGS stepping up on the form he showed when only fourth of five in what had looked an ordinary runningof the Champagne Stakes, despite having got a bit warm on his neck. He had Farhaan for company for much of the way, but was still able to dictate a pace to suit and stayed on powerfully, relishing the step up in trip.

Clearly the winner had the run ofthe race and it remains to be seen whether he´s close to the best of his generation at his powerful yard (O´Brien rarely runs his top-notchers in this, though Treasure Beach was third last year), but he impressed physically as having more scope than his two stablemates. His attitude is likeable as well and there should be more to come as he strengthens up. Bookmakers were unimpressed, though, with both Ladbrokes and William Hill leaving him at 33-1 for the Guineas. In the shorter term, considering his US pedigree, it wouldn´t surprise to see him go to the Breeders´ Cup.


 this one has the same profile as Frankel when it won the race last year at Ascot  (and Action of a true daisy cutter) who has a magnificent action floating over the turf, Obviously, , there´s never a guarantee they´ll be able to train on and maintain their brilliance, and he´s got one more run to get out of the way yet, would love to see him run  in either the Dewhurst, which would be the more favourable option given his abundant pace, or the Racing Post Trophy and has to be the top analyser horse for all the classics next year.