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Stubbs enters Coventry in good form So far, Stubbs has more or less trod down the Dawn Approach path and the precocious colt bids to continue the progression along that particular line in Tuesday's Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Like last year's hero, Stubbs debuted in the opening Curragh juvenile maiden of the season March 24 and, although he did not emulate his predecessor's success in that race, two starts later he was following his example by winning the Rochestown Stakes at Naas. He is joined by Peeping Fawn's son, Sir John Hawkins, and War Command, and that pair are interlinked on form. Sir John Hawkins beat the Bolger runner Intensified in a six-furlong Curragh maiden May 26 before War Command denied the same rival over an extra panel at Leopardstown June 7. "Stubbs is out of an Oaks winner, but the pace is probably coming from Danehill Dancer and he's doing everything right," Aidan O'Brien commented. "First time, he got tired in bad ground and has won very nicely since. We are going to learn a lot about him. Sir John Hawkins won nicely at The Curragh where he was just ready to run." Richard Hannon has put his own stamp on this race in recent times, with Canford Cliffs and Strong Suit impressive winners in 2009 and 2010, respectively. This time, he saddles three smart prospects in Woodcote Stakes scorer Thunder Strike, Goodwood maiden scorer Wahaab, and Championship, with Richard Hughes favoring the latter. He looked an exciting colt in the making when overcoming traffic problems to score on debut in the same six-furlong Newbury maiden won by the yard's aforementioned Coventry winners May 17. "Hughesie made a late switch in the Coventry," Hannon explained. "He was going to ride Thunder Strike, but he was so impressed when he gave Championship his final blowout at Everleigh last Wednesday that he has jumped ship. "Championship has done so well physically since Newbury and now looks a different horse. He won that debut stylishly enough, but he has definitely improved and, while we aren't going there with the confidence we had in Canford Cliffs and Strong Suit, we do like our fellow. "However, don't rule out Thunder Strike. He is a colt with plenty of speed and we weren't sure that he would stay the six furlongs in the Woodcote at Epsom, but he got the trip well and he is clearly a decent tool. So too, is Wahaab, who made an impressive winning debut at Goodwood the same day. He was hollering in the paddock and has a bit of growing up to do, but we have been impressed with everything he has done at home since, and he is definitely going the right way." In the Woodcote the eye-catcher was Riverboat Springs, who managed second despite hating Epsom's camber. "I know we've got 3 1/2 lengths to find (on Thunder Strike), but anyone who saw that race will know that Mick Channon's horse did an absolute feat to finish so close," jockey William Buick commented. "He was detached at halfway, still had a massive task with a furlong to run, but we were flying at the finish to be second. I know this track will be much more up his street and, with the experience he's gained from Epsom, he is going to be a player in the closing stages." Richard Fahey's juvenile team is strong this year and he has made no secret of the regard in which he holds York maiden winner Parbold. "I was worried about the ground, because it rained a lot at York and I nearly took him out," Fahey said. "He is a horse with a lot of speed and mentally he is there." Wesley Ward conquered Royal Ascot four years ago when Strike the Tiger kicked off an unprecedented double in the Windsor Castle Stakes and there will be no 33-1 on offer this time for his latest representative, Ogermeister, in Tuesday's £60,000 renewal. All speed when registering a winning debut over five furlongs in a maiden on dirt at Belmont Park May 16, he faces some similarly precocious speedsters here, including a quartet from the Richard Hannon stable headed by the unbeaten Anticipated, who had two subsequent winners behind when doubling his tally in a course-and-distance conditions event May 1. "He has won both his races in good style and looks a rock-solid sort who goes on any ground," Hannon said. "It's a tough race, but our quartet are all worthy of their places in the field." Aidan O'Brien saddles a duo in Fountain of Youth, a son of the 2003 Queen Mary Stakes heroine Attraction, who scored over five panels at Tipperary June 6, and six-furlong Navan maiden winner Wilshire Boulevard. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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