A very busy Sunday for the yard with Dubai Honour running in the Group 1 Prix Von Europa competing in Germany for a third consecutive year in September after being second two years running in Baden Baden. Valiancy bids to bounce back to form in the Irish Ceserawitch at the Curragh and 4 going to post at Epsom which is one more than the total number of runners Somerville Lodge have ran at Epsom’s only Sunday meeting in the past 25 years. The last of those three was in 2019 – all 3 finished in the first 2 places.
Dubai Honour, possibly for the first time in his illustrious career has to bounce back from a poor run on his latest outing. On his preferred soft ground at Chester he was backed and ridden as though victory was a formality. When asked to accelerate past his inferior opponents he failed to quicken and hang in behind the leaders and could only finish 3rd. It was a performance that was at least 14lb below his best and left all Haggas followers perplexed.
Somewhat, surprisingly he returns to action this year in Cologne on Sunday , there can be doubt that he is in good health as he was supplemented to run in the race won twice previously by Rebels Romance and by Alpinsta the year before she won the Arc.
The winner gets free entry into the Japan Cup and if he wins he may well head to Tokyo en route to his annual visit to Australia. There are only 7 runners and on paper it looks a very weak Group 1. If Dubai Honour is back to his best the race looks a match with Goliath who beat him on German soil last September in Baden Baden.
Due off at 3.07 it is a race to watch for Haggas followers with fingers crossed Dubai Honour can put the Chester run behind him.
Verdict No Bet
The four runners at Epsom each have something to prove in their races starting with Quite Cheeky in the Betfred Wild Card Conditions Stakes over the extended mile at 2.12. The 2yo son of Teofilio was a winner on debut at the course which gives him an edge over all but one of his six rivals who will be running at the course for the first time.
As with all Haggas trained debut winners, the fact they can win is either because they are high quality or the race was poor. The only horse to run from the race subsequently did not enhance the form and Sunday’s race looks a big step up in class for Quite Cheeky and betting on him to follow up looks to come with high risk, especially on faster ground.
Verdict No Bet
In the 2.47 3yo Novice stakes Rowlf a gelded half brother to stable mate Kissmehoneyhoney makes a belated debut.
We had a small ew interest in Kissmehoneyhoney at Goodwood on Wednesday and I thought we were denied at least the place money when Tom Marquand drawn widest of all in stall 9 felt compelled to get an early lead then went fast for the first 3 furlongs.
He maintained a good pace throughout the next mile and paid the price when unable to finish off the race weakening into 5th -the race was won by the chaser Paggane who came from well off the pace.
Rowlf is also likely to need more of a stamina test and as always with debutants is not a bet.
Verdict No Bet
In the Epsom 3.57 the unbeaten Matins bids for a hat-trick stepped into handicap company off a mark of 95.
He will be a short price and Haggas has commented that he was uncertain about the value of his clear cut wins in two small field Novice races and that the rating of 95 could be high. I think he is right Arabian Force was given a rating of 96 when also winning a Salisbury maiden and he went straight into Group company and never really fulfilled his potential.
Haggas has clearly decided that his tried and tested handicap route is preferrable but at the likely price I won’t get involved.
The 4th runner sent to the Epsom Downs is the so far disappointing Crown Office who despite being the subject of a major gamble at Haydock on his last race, as we suggested, ran like a horse with no trip.
Epsom can be a course that suits types such as Crown Office but that is guesswork and although the soft ground at Haydock, was a possible excuse a more valid reason to support the 3yo is his draw in stall 1. I strongly suspect this will result in a change of tactics and Ceiren Fallon will set out to make all the running, with only Bubbles Wonky likely to contest the lead. Thanos will be at the head of the market which means we will get a muggy ew price.
The extent of the support last time at Haydock for Crown Office highlights that he is well handicapped. I clearly remember that he was also strongly fancied to win over 10f at Nottingham on his previous start but was caught to far back in a slowly ran race. The excuses are mounting up but the 3yo is worth one more chance to get his head in front for the first time in 2026.
Verdict 1pt ew Crown Office 4.32 Epsom –
Finally, Valiancy like Dubai Honour is on a recovery mission following a disappointing run at Goodwood. Unlike Dubai Honour there is a question mark about his resilience. He faces a big task taking on any number of rivals running for the heavyweight Irish yards, including his ex stable mate The Reverend now in the hands of Willie Mullins and the Joseph O’Brien trained Sky Captain who has been the subject of a big Ante Post gamble from 16/1 into 6/1 joint favourite.
The Haggas followers that back Somerville Lodge horses blind have taken the early 20/1 and he is into as short as 9/1. I will be very surprised if he doesn’t drift back out. Valiancy has become untrustworthy and James Doyle looks to have a tough task keeping him interested in the early part of the race.
Verdict No Bet
Another day with just one bet – still one to enjoy with the focus also on Dubai Honour in Cologne hopefully adding another Group 1 to his record.
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