Next week's G1 St James's Palace S. features an intriguing clash between the English, Irish and French 2000 Guineas winners, with Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) leading the trio on ratings, Timeform announced on Saturday.
The Godolphin runner earned a mark of 125p for his defeat of Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who would go on to win the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas and be ranked 121. Next on the leaderboard is Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner of the G1 National S. at two, at 120. Listed winner Almaqam (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has been ranked at 115p, which edges the 115 given to Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) for his win in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains.
Timeform handicapper Patrick Jupp said, “The early signs are that this year's Classic crop of milers are a strong bunch and, as is often the case when looking at the St James's Palace, the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket looks the key piece of form.
“Connections of Rosallion may feel entitled to get closer to Notable Speech than on that day, as their charge didn't have the benefit of a recent run, whilst he has since gone one better at the Curragh when doing well to peg back Haatem.
“Notable Speech looks a potentially top-class miler, though, possessing both a high cruising speed and a sharp turn of foot, weapons that are sure to stand him in good stead with conditions next week likely to place the emphasis on speed, and it's hard to see anything that finished behind him at Newmarket reversing form.”
The G1 St James's Palace S. takes place on Tuesday, June 18, the first day of Royal Ascot.
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