Gimcrack Stakes Guide 2021

Lusail is the favourite for the Group Two event and looks to be the worthy market leader holding some strong form and with the trainer landing the event in 2019, he will want to do it again.

The juvenile has been seen four times, winning three times in his career to date, making a superb debut over course and distance in May to beat some nice horses.

He then went to Pontefract for a Conditions stakes where he didn't seem to handle the soft ground, but bounced back to form when stepped up to seven furlongs at Newmarket to land a novice stakes.

The colt was last seen landing Group Two July Stakes over 6f at Newmarket and that represents some of the best form in the race.

Andrew Balding’s two year old colt took a major step forward when seen winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and from that has been a horse to keep an eye on.

Building on an opening success over five furlongs at Newbury, he took to the step up in trip and grade effortlessly to record an impressive victory in the Group Two event.

He was last seen stepping up in trip to seven furlongs for the Group Two Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and with the rain coming, the soft ground slightly hampered his chances and he had to settle for second.

Back at six furlongs on better ground should see the colt go close once more.

A representative for Edward Bethell, Fearby announced his name on the juvenile sprinting scene with a bloodless display in the Dragon Stakes.

Things looked to come too fast for him on debut and he weakened out of contention tamely. He took a huge step forward for his first outing and won as he pleased in maiden company at Wetherby.

He moved up into Listed company with ease in the Dragon Stakes and left a smart field for dead with a lethal turn of foot.

His impressive performance has seen him garner a rating of 107 and off the back of that he went into the Molecomb Stakes last time out and finished a fair second behind the impressive Armour.

He will have to step up from that run to get involved in this race.

This two year old for Richard Fahey loves the ground as fast as possible so will not appreciate any rain, but overall he looks a very progressive type that offers some of the smartest form in the field.

Starting at Doncaster in March he was a fair fourth behind market rival Chipotle, but off the back of that he got off the mark at Beverley in very taking fashion.

Staying on an upward curve he went into a Novice Stakes at Ayr and won that again with ease and was then upped in class to the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and finished a very smart third.

He takes on the winner of that race here and having been only just over a length behind him, he could get on terms with him here.

Vintage Clarets was last seen finishing sixth of 22 in the Super Sprint Stakes at Newbury which was a smart run and it should set him up perfectly for this event, back up in grade.

Value angle, especially with trainers record at the track.

Roger Fell’s Eldrickjones has acquired a lofty looking rating of 103 for his outings this season, despite retaining his maiden status.

Only running over six furlongs for his three events, he was beaten a nose on debut before a very creditable second in the Coventry Stakes to Berkshire Shadow.

Outrunning odds of 66/1 at Ascot saw him go off joint favourite for the July Stakes at Newmarket two weeks ago.

Unable to justify the market support the colt had to settle for a disappointing fifth but didn’t have the clearest of passages.

Stepped up to seven furlongs on soft ground in the Vintage Stakes last time out didn't work out and he looks to have it all to do in this field.

Orazio for Charles Hills is one of the lesser known horses in the field only being seen twice to date, winning on debut at Windsor in very taking style and then heading to Newbury last time out to finish third in the Listed Rose Bow Stakes.

The form of his last race has not worked out yet but he is very unexposed and could cause a shock against this better established horses.

Just out battled on debut by Bosh at York over 6 furlongs, Gis A Sub got off the mark for Kevin Ryan in a Class 2 conditions race at the end of last month.

The form hasn’t worked out terribly with Sam Maximus coming third and then repeating that to finish third in the July Stakes just behind Asymmetric.

Sent to Goodwood last time out in the Group Two Richmond Stakes he was totally outclassed by the field only beating one home and needs to be much better than that here.

Yard really like this horse.

Getting towards the bigger priced horses in the field and the Irish raider Twilight Jet is one of the most exposed juvenile's in the field.

Needing his first two runs at the Curragh, he then got off the mark at Tipperary over five furlongs in a weak event.

He has since raced three more times, bing out the frame on all of his runs, last time out in the Group One Phoenix Stakes and on that form looks opposable.

Karl Burke fields the two year old Last Crusader who looks a big price at 22/1, having been seen twice to date in good effect.

He made his debut at Ayr back in July getting off the mark in gritty style and last time out at Redcar he finished a close up fourth of 11 in Novice Stakes.

He has to take a big step forward going into this company and may be best watched for now.

Spitting Feathers for Kevin Ryan was a 190,000gns purchase and on debut over course and distance was seen finishing fifth behind Lusail.

He then got off the mark last time out at Carlisle in a Novice Stakes and although it was a smart performance he will need much more here.

The final runner of the race is the Ed Walker trained American Star who looks overpriced at 33/1, but would prefer some juice in the ground.

The colt needed his debut at Newbury in June, but then finished a good second behind Bosh at the same track over six furlongs.

The form of that race has worked out well with the first, third and fifth since winning and American Star added to that last time out when winning comfortably at Salisbury.

Stepping up into this grade will need big improvement but he could sneak a place.