Chesham Stakes Guide 2021

Heading the market for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, the Irish trainer is only sending one dart this year so it’s no surprise to see him as the early favourite.
Debuting at the Curragh over 7 furlongs only 17 days ago, he made the perfect start to life despite having to be shoved along after half a mile.

When the penny dropped and he stretched out, he powered clear by 5.5 lengths like a really classy animal.

He’s a full brother to Broome, who came 4th in the 2019 derby and handles soft ground, so has class in his blood. A 575,000 guineas purchase for a stable that have won 3 of the last 5 runnings of this race.

Warrants the utmost respect.

Godolphin owned and Charlie Appleby trained looks a winning combination and that’s what we get here with New Science.

A son of Lope De Vega, he fetched a hefty fee of €260,000 as a yearling and debuted at Yarmouth over 7 furlongs last month. Showing plenty of pace and a good attitude, he bounced straight into the lead to make every yard of the running.

The form has yet to be tested but he looked smart enough on debut and holds Reach For The Moon on that form.

Softer ground to encounter here is an unknown.

Debuted for Andrew Balding at Goodwood last month and handled soft ground over 6 furlongs with ease to record an opening success.

The colt travelled really nicely into the race at Goodwood and only had to be pushed out under hands and heels to seize the initiative. The trip was probably on the sharp side for him, he hit the line strong and cut through rain softened ground with ease.

The form hasn’t worked out well, but Oisin Murphy didn’t have to get really serious with him to get the result. He’ll improve bundles for that run and looks to have plenty more under the bonnet.

Handles soft and his yard are taking the juvenile races by storm. Serious contender.

Trained by the Gosdens for the Queen, Reach For the Moon was previously mentioned having come 2nd to New Science at Yarmouth on debut last month.

He looked to be grossly outdone for speed but rallied well to snatch 2nd late on. A stiffer course should suit and his sire was a winner on deep ground as a 2 year old.

He’ll have learnt plenty from his debut effort and his pedigree suggests that he’ll be able to handle the rain. Shaped like he’ll enjoy a stiffer test of stamina and should be shortlisted.

Archie Watson sends 2 year old Sweeping off the back of a solid debut effort that saw him come 2nd to Dhabab at Leicester.

Dhabab went off favourite for the Coventry Stakes on Tuesday and if not for a troubled passage he would’ve finished closer than 6th.

Sweeping stayed on well at Leicester but couldn’t live with the class and raw pace that Dhabab had over 6 furlongs. Moving up in trip looks like it will definitely suit more but the slower ground is an obvious unknown. However, sire Siyouni did win on soft ground.

Only seen 9 days ago for Michael Bell, this 260,000 guineas yearling took to the course at Newbury for the first time recently and made the perfect debut.

Despite being slightly hampered and showing signs of being green, he used his stamina to run on well and touch off Harrow close to the line.

That was over 6.5 furlongs and the colt definitely shaped like going further would suit more. A stiff 7 furlongs will draw out the best of him, it’s just whether he can handle the ground.

His sire did win on very soft in France as a 2 year old.

A filly takes her chance against the boys for Mick Channon and she has more experience under her belt than many of her rivals.

She debuted at Windsor over 5 furlongs but found the minimum trip far too sharp to get competitive and finished 7th of 8 runners.

She moved right up in trip for her second run to 7 furlongs and handled deep ground at Haydock to notch her first win. She raced against her own sex that day but showed a real grit to knuckle down and beat the short priced favourite Madame Ambassador.

Holding on by a neck, the race has failed to produce any more winners but she did at least show she can handle the mud.

She has a lot on her plate to get competitive with the boys but looks like stiff tests are her bag.

Mark Johnston saddles a son of Bated Breath, Sharp Combo. Another who’s notched up two runs this season, he his form up a notch to score on the second time of asking.

Debuting at Redcar over 6 furlongs, he was clearly outpaced but ran on pleasingly to come 5th. Ability was clearly there so being moved up to 7 furlongs at Wolverhampton 11 days ago brought about the necessary improvement.

He seemingly did everything wrong, he bucked out of the stalls, hung all over the course and showed real signs of inexperience but got the job done regardless.

The form has yet to be tested, but it doesn’t look the best of quality of races. It is a testament to the horse's ability that he did so much wrong but scored with a touch in hand. Needs to improve again dramatically though.

An eye-catcher for Jamie Osbourne when storming home at 50/1 to snatch 2nd place at Lingfield over 6 furlongs last month to Bicep.

The winner didn’t do the form any favours by coming stone dead last in the Windsor Castle but Withering gave him a real scare by finishing with a rattle.

Moving up in trip to 7 furlongs will definitely suit, a hard pace and a test of stamina will likely draw out more improvement but it’s hard to see him breaking his maiden in this company.

The outsider of the field currently in the betting is one for Mark Johnston.

A winner of debut over 5 furlongs at Beverley back in April, it was a smart opening run for this filly. The race has produced some low grade winners since but nothing to get madly excited about.

Out In Yorkshire moved up in class for her last run and acquitted herself well to come 2nd in a conditions race at Salisbury when giving weight away to the 1st, 3rd and 4th.

She’s got a change in going and 2 furlongs of unexplored territory to conquer to get competitive. Out of a sire who was a 7 furlong juvenile winner and might just relish this trip.