Jury still out as to whether Aidan O'Brien juveniles can salvage muddling season

It's been a muddling season for Ballydoyle. Kyprios is as close as they have come to unearthing a star and he's won two of their six Group 1s in the Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup.

Tuesday won their first and only Classic in this season's Oaks, while Tenebrism was successful in one of the season's traditionally weak Group 1s, the Prix Jean Prat.

Another to strike in France was the Morny winner Blackbeard, who looks to have been placed particularly well. Along with Phoenix Stakes winner Little Big Bear, he is by a speed influence in No Nay Never and I'm unconvinced the pair will train on.

If there is a weak link to Aidan O'Brien's string, perhaps it lies with his middle-distance horses. Although Broome won the Hardwicke Stakes, he was ultimately unable to compensate for the injury to their top three-year-old prospect Luxembourg.

This doesn't bode well for next season and while any number of exciting colts will debut in the coming months, I haven't been encouraged by Ballydoyle's latest juvenile crop.

Another No Nay Never colt in Aesop's Fables looked destined for better things when mowing down stablemate Hans Andersen in the Futurity Stakes recently and probably tops the pile, but several others have underwhelmed.

Blackbeard (right): well placed to win a Group 1 in FranceCredit: © APRH / P-H FLAMENT

Alfred Munnings was bitterly disappointing in the Chesham and has since been on the easy list with Auguste Rodin, while Age Of Kings couldn't justify favouritism in the Tyros Stakes.

Tongues were wagging when Denmark made a winning start at Naas at the start of the month, but I must be in the minority as I didn't like what I saw and would be planning to take him on wherever he goes next.

He showed several negative characteristics and while any horse can be forgiven for naughty behaviour on their first day at school, his pedigree suggests those quirks could be here to stay.

Camelot is attempting to keep his sire Montjeu's legacy afloat and while his progeny can share the family's talent, they can also pass on their quirks.

Denmark played up before and after the race and looked a difficult ride, carrying his head high and to one side before hanging into the rail.

He also looked to carry his tail quite high at one stage, a personal dislike which I interpret as a sign of awkwardness, and he unseated his rider after the finish.

His effort reminded me a little of another son of Camelot in Luxembourg, who is Group 1 class but hasn't yet proved he has the tractability we are used to seeing from Ballydoyle's sons of Galileo.

Admittedly, once Denmark was organised by Ryan Moore he ran through the line strongly and took a while to pull up, which is a promising sign.

Are you with or against Ballydoyle's impressive debut winner Denmark?Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

This tallies strongly with his pedigree, which suggests he would have no issue staying two miles in time. His dam's best son, a Galileo half-brother called Big Blue, won a hurdle race over the trip in Australia.

The Jim Bolger-trained Gan Teorainn won the proceeding fillies' maiden in a quicker time, but she didn't exactly advertise that form when failing to beat a horse home in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes recently.

The Racing Post Rating team handed Denmark a solid but unspectacular 93 and the form has also taken a couple of knocks.

The second was beaten ten lengths into fifth by another O'Brien-trained juvenile in Cairo at the Curragh on Sunday, while third-placed favourite View Taken was also well beaten into seventh on his second start.

Next weekend's KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes is a key race for O'Brien's squad, because at the moment the jury is still out on Denmark and his juveniles as a whole.

Kinross can graduate to Group 1 hero at Haydock

Kinross
3.30 Haydock, Saturday
1pt win at 9-1

Saturday's feature Betfair Sprint Cup (3.30) at Haydock looks a good opportunity for Kinross to gain a first Group 1 and he's still a tasty price at 9-1.

The admirable Naval Crown appeals as the alternative, but his last two starts have proved he isn't a standout talent and he could ensure the selection receives the strong pace he needs.

Kinross took his form to a new level when winning the City of York according to Racing Post Ratings, as he received a figure of 120 for the convincing success.

Kinross: can make Group 1 breakthrough on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

He is clearly in much better form than when eighth in the Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot, where James Doyle rode the perfect race aboard Naval Crown.

The five-year-old won the John of Gaunt over seven furlongs at the track last year and is overpriced on just his third try over six furlongs in this country.

I'd expect Frankie Dettori will again adopt the more prominent tactics that saw him scoot to success at York, while the projected rain on the day of the race is of little concern as Kinross has won on good to firm and soft.

In short, I'd much rather back an in-form horse who has been racing over further than some of these, who have already shown their hand in similar contests.

Read more . . .

Who wins the 2022 Sprint Cup? Assessing the key contenders for Haydock

Paul Kealy: 'He is no 10-1 shot' – Group 1 advice for the weekend (Members' Club)

Tom Segal: it's not only horses who have course preferences – trainers do as well (Members' Club)

Ed Walker: we're experimenting at York – and it could land us a notable hat-trick (Members' Club)

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