JULIETTE'S WEEKLY FROLIC With more Derby bubbles bursting at Ling-
tield and Longchamp last weekend, Mill Reef clings to favouritism for the unflattering reason that each newly discovered rival proves a public flop. This, and the possibility of a flag start, makes England's premier classic seem as open as the 'National' and hardened punters as well as adoring house- wives will be forced to rely on Lester to sort it out profitably. Meanwhile, I take immense pleasure at the thought of descend- ing on Newbury next Saturday armed with my first-ever 'official' press pass, and with such inflated status it would be too galling to lose once again. Although Brigadier Gerard has now opted out, the prestigious Lock inge Stakes still has a crowd-pulling entry that puts the Derby to shame. Cham- pion miler, Welsh Pageant, four times a winner last year, renews rivalry with the money-spinning Gold Rod, but the latter has yet to find his form and is asked to give Murless's horse 3 lb. Mon Plaisir easily won the Victoria Cup with 9 st 8 lb last month,
but I fancy another tough weight-carrier, Joshua, as the horse to beat the favourites. Last year he acted consistently well in top mile company, beat Gold Rod at Lingfield when 2 lb worse off than now and carried
9 st 6 lb into fourth place in the Ayr Gold Cup. Although strictly speaking Welsh Pageant should trounce him at the weights, Joshua has the advantage of a runaway win under 9 st 13 lb in the Yorkshire Spring Cup, and gameness and fitness may have the edge over breeding on this occasion. The previous day St Patrick's Blue should vastly improve on Chester Cup, running with Random Shot where he left his chal- lenge far. too late, but Sacremento Song, who before scraping home at Kempton on a very soft surface, had an easy victory with
10 st 3 lb at Brighton, could defeat them both. Later, in the (1 mile 2 furlongs) Sandelford Priory Stakes, Hill Circus has a pre-Oaks run, but as her only previous race was over a mere 6 furlongs last September, 1 prefer the more lowly Algarve. who after a pro- mising debut in Ascot's Golden Hind-Stakes went on to win at Salisbury over 14 miles. Assets: £63.20. Outlay £3 ew Joshua, £2 to win Sacremento Song and Algarve.
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