Take Scenic route to victory

Foreign raiders have been gathering rich pickings in top sprints in this country, notably at Royal Ascot, but not exclusively.

Foreign raiders have been gathering rich pickings in top sprints in this country, notably at Royal Ascot, but not exclusively.

Marchand d'Or, for instance, won the Darley July Cup at Newmarket last year and, although he is apparently not in good enough form to defend the title, fellow French sprinter African Rose is a worthy replacement.

Trained by Criquette Head-Maarek, this four-year-old filly has been campaigned mostly at seven furlongs, but this stiff six will suit her fine.

Whether she is up to beating this quality of field is perhaps doubtful, although the French rarely visit these shores without high hopes of victory.

On paper at least, there are other, more formidable raiders to concern the home brigade.

Scenic Blast and Takeover Target, from Australia, and JJ The Jet Plane, from South Africa, have impressive CVs and the odds against one of them winning would be short.

Of the quartet, Takeover Target is the most remarkable in that, at 10, he is still plying his trade around the world with apparently as much speed as ever.

Winner of his first two races this year, he can be forgiven defeat in Singapore last time and, even if his task does not get any easier, he is not to be ignored.

JJ The Jet Plane is the South African champion who has won eight of 12 races. He has also been winning around the world and, although well beaten in to fourth place by Art Connoisseur in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, he could easily prove he is much better than that.

Scenic Blast, the admirable successor to Takeover Target in Australia, was a hugely impressive winner of the five-furlong King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, and his record suggests he is at least as good, if not better, over an extra furlong.

Art Connoisseur and Fleeting Spirit appear to be the leading home hopes and have already finished first and second respectively in their opening efforts at the royal meeting.

Paco Boy, dropping back from a mile, and likewise, Main Aim are fascinating contenders, any one of whom could be good enough.

It promises to be a great race with any number of permutations, but on the basis that he is as effective over this trio as he was at Ascot, it is difficult to see past Scenic Blast (2.35), although Art Connoisseur appeals as a big each-way contender.

Another good juvenile winner at the royal meeting, Big Audio, should go close to making it a double Group win in the Meydan Superlatives Stakes.

No Hubris is another who could run well over a trip, seven furlongs, that may suit but this could go to Aidan O'Brien's Emperor Claudius (2.00), who was a touch unlucky in running when beaten a short head by Big Audio at Ascot. He could well reverse the placings.

In the Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup, Racer Forever (2.35) is one of a few whose performances in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Ascot reads well in this race's context.

He seems to come good at this time of the season and is on a winning mark, even if this is a tough affair.

Crackdown(1.30), is due to go up a couple of pounds after today and so, although giving weight away, is still well treated to win the Premier Travel Handicap.