Can we trust the Coventry form? Graeme Rodway gives his view on Berkshire Shadow

Unibet Vintage Stakes (Group 2) | 7f | 2yo | ITV/RTV

There were some impressive juvenile winners at Royal Ascot but, according to Racing Post Ratings, there was none better than Berkshire Shadow, who achieved an RPR of 109 when winning the Coventry and was rated the best juvenile in Britain and Ireland afterwards.

That title has since been taken by Go Bears Go, who is now rated 110 after his Railway Stakes victory at the Curragh and there are question marks over the Coventry form now too.

The second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth have been beaten since and only one subsequent winner has emerged from the race. That was the seventh, Caturra, who was arguably lucky to land a Listed race at Newbury this month after runner-up Detail was given too much to do.

It may not be wise to judge Berkshire Shadow too harshly, though. Let's not forget that he was well on top at the finish, scoring by a length and a quarter in a race run in a good time. His Raceform speed figure was 108 and the par for a juvenile Group 2 in June is 105.

Furthermore, according to sectional times published by Longines on Ascot.co.uk, Berkshire Shadow ran the final two furlongs in 23.88 seconds, 0.35 seconds quicker than anything else. He was therefore about 2.1 lengths faster than his rivals in the last quarter mile.

Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'We've never seen anything like it at home'

After Eldrickjones finished behind the two Vintage Stakes market principals in his last two outings, his North Yorkshire trainer Roger Fell is confident everything is falling into place to reverse those placings this time around.

The son of Cotai Glory belied odds of 66-1 to run within a length and a half of Berkshire Shadow at Royal Ascot before being beaten three lengths behind Lusail at Newmarket.

However, the step up from six furlongs to seven and softer ground has Fell excited at the prospect of landing a first Group victory with a horse he says he has never seen the like of at Athington Barn Stables.

"We've never seen anything like it at home," he said. "We're only a small yard so we can't put him against a 100-rated horse on the gallop because we don't have one. All we can do is put him against a 90-rated horse and watch him pass it.

"We couldn't be sure of the soft ground because we haven't run him on it yet, but Danny [Tudhope] thinks he'll really appreciate a bit of cut. If he's in the same form at Ascot then he could reverse that form because he came from a worse draw and finished like a train."

Fell added: "It's seven furlongs and we've got a cut so I'd hope things are in our favour. At Newmarket the jockey got off and told me he was flat out the whole way, which tells me he wants further. It will be exciting and he definitely won't disgrace himself."

What they say

Richard Hannon, trainer of Secret Strength
Secret Strength is no mug and he would have a chance at a big price I think. He didn't have his act together at the start of the year but since then he's run exceptionally well over five furlongs and has always looked like he'd want further. I think this will suit him.

Oisin Murphy, rider of Berkshire Shadow
He's had a similar prep to Ascot, he's been freshened up and worked at the weekend with Will Carver and seemed to go very well. He's stepping up a furlong but we always felt he was a miler in the making.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of The Acropolis
He's trying seven furlongs for the first time and we think that will suit him. We've been very happy with him since the Railway and he seems to be well in himself.
Reporting by Sam Hendry

Tuesday's race previews:

1.50 Goodwood: 'He's ready to win if things go right' – trainers on the TV opener

3.00 Goodwood: absence unlikely to be an issue as Space Blues bids for Lennox Stakes repeat

3.35 Goodwood: 'They ride to beat him' – Stradivarius camp hoping to avoid difficult passage

3.35 Goodwood: why Stradivarius is harder to beat at Goodwood (Members' Club)

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