Belmont Invitational: More to come from Cool in Oaks

The Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes and Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes have only been known in their current guises since 2014, with the decision being made to alter both the race titles and the level of prize money on offer. The two Grade 1 events on Saturday's card are now each worth at least $1,000,000 and the New York track's move has been vindicated by the fields both contests are beginning to attract, with far more international competition than had previously been the case.

Aidan O'Brien has been a significant supporter since the changes were made and saddles the current market leaders for both races on Saturday, with Deauville set to do battle first in the Belmont Derby. He had some smart form to his name in four starts as a two-year-old and proved better than when second on his seasonal debut in the Dante Stakes at York. He failed to reproduce that form on his most recent outing in the Derby at Epsom, but gave the impression he would be suited by the better ground he encounters here and - with a return to this shorter trip also likely to be in his favour - Deauville is worthy of his place at the head of the market.

Stablemate Long Island Sound also makes the journey over from Ireland and is another that will appreciate the better surface than when third in the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. That form could hardly have worked out better (winner followed up in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown) and he can't be ruled out with any confidence, despite appearing to be the stable second-string on paper.

Humphrey Bogart had Deauville behind him when fifth in the Epsom Derby, but appeared to be feeling the effects of that effort when disappointing in the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot. He looks worth opposing just three weeks on from what was another hard race that day and the biggest danger to Deauville is likely to come in the shape of the US-trained pair Airoforce and Camelot Kitten. The former returned to form with a creditable second in a Grade 3 at Penn National last time and - second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in October - he appeals as the most likely to fill the forecast spot.

Ballydoyle is the standard-bearer for the operation of the same name in the Belmont Oaks, with the form of her second behind stablemate Minding in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket appearing to be the best on offer here. She wasn't beaten far when sixth on softer ground than she would have liked in the French Oaks at Chantilly last time (forced to deliver her challenge from further back than ideal) and - a Group 1 winner over 1m as a two-year-old - she deserves another chance to prove her effectiveness at 1¼m.

Breeders' Cup winner Catch A Glimpse is unbeaten since making the switch to turf and ran as well as ever when defeating the aforementioned Airoforce in a Grade 3 at Penn National last time. Her impressive strike rate entitles her to respect here, but this looks a far tougher race than she has been contesting of late and she may just prove vulnerable to a stronger stayer at the trip, with this Grade 1 her first attempt at a trip in excess of 1m½f.

Land Over Sea and Time And Motion make some appeal from the home team, but it is another overseas raider, and a stablemate of Ballydoyle, that arguably offers the best value in the race.

Coolmore finished a neck in front of the current favourite in the French Oaks last month and, although she was better-placed than most in a race where there was plenty of trouble in behind, that effort still represented a significant improvement on the form she had shown in her first two starts of the current campaign. She remains unexposed over this longer trip and - a sister to last year's 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles - she will also relish the firm track at Belmont on Saturday. She looks far too big at 25/1 and appears to hold sound each-way claims on what could be a profitable night for the Aidan O'Brien yard.

Recommendations:

Back Deauville in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (Belmont Park, Saturday 21:38 BST)
Back Coolmore each-way in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (Belmont Park, Saturday 22:46 BST)