Ratings Update: US Army Ranger blasts way into Derby picture

Two Flat cards took centre stage this weekend and the most notable performances came on the Lincoln card at Doncaster on Saturday and the Gladness Stakes card at the Curragh on Sunday, with a nice balance of big-field handicaps, listed/Group races and even the odd Derby prospect on show.

Doncaster’s Lincoln day lost some of its allure when the ground (which Timeform described as heavy) caused the withdrawal of Wesley Ward’s Create A Dream from the Brocklesby Stakes. That said, the winner The Last Lion looked another good two-year-old prospect for Mark Johnston, who has won with four of his first five newcomers this season, scoring under hands and heels and earning a Timeform rating of 97p.

Belardo was undoubtedly the class act on the card and didn’t have to be anywhere near his best (Timeform-rated 123, ran to 116) to win a below-par renewal of the listed Doncaster Mile, where half the declared runners failed to make it to post. He will reportedly head to the Lockinge next, where his chance would be increased with ground on the easy side.

The second listed race on the card was the Cammidge Trophy, won in smooth fashion by Mobsta, who produced a much improved effort under his optimum conditions. He’s now Timeform-rated 116, and given his lightly-raced profile, it is easy to see him running well again granted similar ground this season, though he’d need another jolt of improvement to get competitive in next month’s Duke of York Stakes, for which he is entered. The second horse, Suedois (Timeform-rated 115), made an encouraging first start for David O’Meara and is likely to remain competitive at a similar level (including at seven furlongs).

Both the Lincoln and it’s consolation race, the Spring Mile, looked very competitive renewals on paper, though in the case of the Lincoln especially – where five of the first six home had the benefit of a run less than six weeks prior – it seemed that fitness was at a premium in the testing conditions, which may lead to the form being on the weak side. That said, it was a smart performance, and a career-best effort, from the winner Secret Brief, who is now Timeform-rated 113 and likely to give a good account in other major one-mile handicaps in the coming months. The second Bravo Zolo produced his best performance to date (now also rated 113), having saved his best for all-weather surfaces prior to this. Bravo Zolo faired much the best of the prominently ridden horses, and may well be capable of more.

A few of the less exposed horses underperformed in the Spring Mile, including the favourite Predominance, but the winner Lord of The Rock (now Timeform-rated 103) had only five prior starts himself, and deserves plenty of credit for taking this big-field event so early in his development. Donncha, who built on his good record in big-field handicaps and is now rated 111, will be shortlist material next time (be it over seven furlongs or one mile) after coming from further back than the principles to finish second.

Unsurprisingly given the stage in the season, fitness also counted for plenty at the Curragh on Sunday, and Onenightidreamed, who had excuses when failing to retain the Irish Lincoln two weeks ago, landed his second Group 3 prize in the Gladness stakes, and is now Timeform-rated 114, sure to remain of interest under similarly testing conditions. Favourite Dick Whittington, who has clearly had his problems, not seen since disappointing in last season’s Greenham, probably needed the run.

Another Aidan O’Brien inmate who will come on for the outing on Sunday was Found, who could only manage third in the next race on the card, the listed Alleged Stakes. Last season’s Breeders’ Cup turf winner was spared a hard race, and is likely to be much closer to her 123 Timeform-rating next time we see her (reportedly will have another start before going for next month’s Tattersalls Gold Cup). The race was won by Zhukova, who progressed again to make it three wins from five starts and is potentially a very smart filly in the making, now Timeform-rated 114p.

The final race on the card at the Curragh was the same maiden in which Aidan O’Brien sent out Derby winner Ruler of The World to win in 2013, and his US Army Ranger – well backed for the Derby in recent weeks – followed suit with a likable performance, looking potentially smart (Timeform-rated 95P) as he beat Aasheq (89p), despite having to challenge from much further back than those that finished immediately behind him. For context, Foundation is currently Timeform-rated 114p, Wajeez is 107p, and Midterm is on 91P. US Army Ranger will reportedly have just one more run prior to Epsom, and will be of plenty of interest when showing up for a trial, wherever that may be, in the coming weeks.