Timeform Notebook: Peron a pattern-level performer

Cape Peron he made up his ground effortlessly, cruising up alongside his rivals still firmly on the bridle before delivering an explosive turn of foot that settled the race in a matter of strides...

Timeform highlight an exciting three-year-old surely destined to make his mark in group races...

There were plenty of promising types on display at York's Dante meeting last week, but nothing caught the eye in quite the same fashion as Henry Candy's ultra-impressive Doncaster winner Cape Peron. Making his handicap debut off a mark of 87, the twice-raced Cape Peron was well-backed throughout the day, sent off as the 6-4 favourite, and he ran out an extraordinarily easy four-and-a-half length winner, scoring with any amount in hand. 

As if the performance needs marking up any further, Cape Peron possibly wasn't best placed in a slowly-run race, anchored at the rear of the field. However, he made up his ground effortlessly, cruising up alongside his rivals still firmly on the bridle before delivering an explosive turn of foot that settled the race in a matter of strides. It was the performance of a horse destined to make his mark at a higher level.

There was no element of fluke to the performance. Cape Peron arrived at Doncaster with a big reputation, the form of his Newbury maiden win - where his striking turn of foot was also seen to good effect - having been handsomely boosted a number of times in the preceding 48 hours. He is an exciting, progressive three-year-old and it will be interesting to see when, not if, connections set him a pattern-level assignment.

The Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot has been earmarked as the next target, though given the manner of success the assessor is sure to have his say. Perhaps a drop back to seven furlongs - something unlikely to pose a problem for such a strong-travelling sort - to contest the Group 3 Jersey Stakes may be on the agenda?  Wherever he ends up, it is worth following the progress of Cape Peron.

Timeform Notebook:

Mombasa and Border Legend were both in action last week and although they were both soundly beaten, they remain as horses to be interested in.

Mombasa, who was expected to appreciate the step up to one and a half miles, clearly wasn't at the top of his game, coming under pressure a fair way out and finishing in ninth place. It is far too soon to be writing him off given his lightly-raced profile and he is worth another chance.

Border Legend appeals as a well-handicapped horse based on some strong form last season, but he was possibly asked for his effort too soon at Newmarket, paying the price in the final furlong as he weakened out of contention. He is in better heart than his form figures this season would indicate and he could reward his supporters at decent odds.

Jamaican Bolt - Of interest in five-furlong handicaps with cut in the ground.
Mombasa - Of interest in handicaps, particularly if stepped up to one and a half miles.
Loving Spirit - One to note in seven furlong or one-mile handicaps.
Border Legend - Remains unexposed and one to bear in mind for handicaps.
Galileo Rock - A strong stayer who can make an impact at Group level when the emphasis is on stamina.
Pether's Moon - An unexposed, progressive three-year-old that started life in handicaps on a good mark.
Salford Red Devil - Plenty of promise on debut and well up to winning a maiden.
Cape Peron - Ultra-progressive three-year-old that already looks like a group-class performer

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Timeform Notebook: Galileo to Rock rivals

Galileo Rock made only the two starts as a juvenile - both races taking place over a mile - and it wasn't a surprise to see the stoutly-bred son of Galileo appreciate the extra two furlongs and the stiff uphill finish at Sandown...

A three-year-old in action at Sandown on Friday caught our eye and gained inclusion into the Timeform Notebook...

Sandown staged an informative two-day meeting last week and there were plenty of eye-catching performances. One horse that particularly stood out, in terms of long-term potential, was the David Wachman-trained Galileo Rock. Making his seasonal reappearance, Galileo Rock contested the Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown, displaying useful form to finish a close-up third behind Irish compatriots Sugar Boy and Eye of The Storm, and he looks like the type of horse that will come into his own when his stamina is fully drawn out.

Galileo Rock made only the two starts as a juvenile - both races taking place over a mile - and it wasn't a surprise to see the stoutly-bred son of Galileo appreciate the extra two furlongs and the stiff uphill finish he was presented with in the Classic Trial, devouring the ground late on to finish on the heels of the leaders and pull well clear of the rest of the field. This year's Classic Trial looked like an intriguing race beforehand as it pitted plenty of unexposed, exciting youngsters from either side of the Irish Sea against each other, and there is no reason to question the substance of the form, particularly with the likeable and reliable standard-bearer Sugar Boy narrowly prevailing.

If Galileo Rock is to contest a Classic, the St Leger would appear to be more of a realistic target than the Derby - where he would probably lack the speed of some of the main protagonists - but an ideal race in the interim, should connections go down this route, would appear to be the Queen's Vase, the two-mile event at Royal Ascot that is restricted to three-year-olds. Galileo Rock would certainty have more inherent ability than many of the horses who usually contest that race and he promises to stay the trip.

2013 Flat Notebook:

Jamaican Bolt - Of interest in five-furlong handicaps with cut in the ground.
Mombasa - Of interest in handicaps, particularly if stepped up to one and a half miles.
Loving Spirit - One to note in seven furlong or one-mile handicaps.
Border Legend - Remains unexposed and one to bear in mind for handicaps.
Galileo Rock - A strong stayer who can make an impact at Group level when the emphasis is on stamina.

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Timeform Notebook: Brook to end his Barren spell

Having slipped in the weights after a few below-par efforts, Barren Brook shaped as if he is capable of capitalising on the chance he has been given by the assessor...

Despite an undoubted lull in the quality of racing on the domestic front, the Timeform Notebook returns to highlight three horses that may be worth following...

Past editions of the Timeform Notebook have predominately focussed on the weekend action, but it would be remiss of us to omit a potential winner simply because he was seen operating on a relatively low-key weekday card. The first horse to gain our attention was seen powering home to secure a second-placed finish on the sodden Ripon turf last Tuesday. Having slipped in the weights after a few below-par efforts, Barren Brook shaped as if he is capable of capitalising on the chance he has been given by the assessor, finishing strongly in the closing stages despite possibly finding the surface softer than ideal. Given his shrewd connections, it is well worth keeping an eye on Barren Brook in the market wherever he turns up next.

Arguably the best racing last week came from Sandown, with the Godolphin filly Falls Of Lora surely catching the attention of many observers, looking to be an unlucky loser in the Group 3 race for fillies and mares. However, her stablemate, Irish History, is also interesting, having shaped better than the bare result would imply. Slowly away, Irish History was dropped out in last place early on but travelled well and made up ground stylishly before her effort flattened out inside the final furlong, eventually finishing sixth. On first impression, it looked as if she was simply given too much to do and, having performed well in Group 1 contests, it would be a surprise were Mahmood Al Zarooni's filly incapable of gaining pattern-level success in the near future.

Hard-luck stories at Chester are not uncommon and another horse to join the list of losers who probably should have won is the Alan Bailey-trained Strictly Silver. Not ideally drawn, the grey colt could be observed travelling powerfully in the pack but, crucially, was forced slightly wide as they entered the straight and narrowly failed to overhaul Verse Of Love. Still unexposed and progressive, there is a strong feeling that Strictly Silver will not have to wait long to gain compensation for this unfortunate defeat.

Runners Debrief
Having waxed lyrical about the speed Rex Imperator possesses, it was rather disconcerting to see him off the bridle so far out at Bath on Saturday, putting up what could be termed as a rather laboured effort. Considering his best form has come on quicker ground, the soft underfoot conditions he encountered at Bath can certainly be deemed a contributory factor to the rather lacklustre run, and it is far too early to write him off.

It could be a busy week for our Notebook horses, with no less than four of our eye-catchers holding engagements. John Dunlop's string are in notably better form now than when Alnawiyah made a most promising debut, and the daughter of Dalakhani looks to hold strong claims of getting off the mark at the second time of asking at Lingfield on Wednesday. Golden Causeway was a bitter disappointment at Newmarket last time, having shaped so well on debut, and it will be interesting to see whether she takes up either of her entries this week.

Gospel Choir, who was a late withdrawal from the Melrose Stakes at York, could potentially line up against a host of progressive three-year-old handicappers at Ascot on Saturday. Although Sir Michael Stoute does have other options for the race, connections had mooted Saturday's contest as a potential target for their lightly-raced improver and he is bound to have his supporters at Ascot.

Victorious on his handicap bow, a 4lb rise in the weights should not unduly inconvenience Luca Cumani's unexposed three-year-old Semeen, who will surely hold strong claims should he be confirmed for the 0-70 handicap at Brighton on Friday.

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