Autocracy and Cobbs Quay at Brighton, thoughts on Alezanna and Great Charm

Autocracy is engaged in the 6.00 at Brighton today (Tuesday 19th June) with Mickael Barzalona riding, attempting to follow up his win at Lingfield last week under a penalty and would have a good chance if putting his best foot forward again and handling Brighton’s idiosyncrasies. He wants genuine good ground or quicker to take his chance.  The main dangers are Amazing Win who is heading down fresh off a victory at Carlisle yesterday and must be a very tough horse having already run 4 times this month and 5 times last, including a victory at Brighton having finished second at Ayr the day before. He still looks well handicapped and is the main danger. A couple of others who could pose a threat are Imaginary Diva who is capable at this level and is returning to this grade after struggling in better company. Likewise Colourbearer has proven capable of winning this type of race in the past and if the cheek pieces reinvigorate him he could put up a good show.

Cobbs Quay is a non runner in the 8.00 due to the quicker ground. He may head to Ripon on Thursday instead.

Great Charm was disappointing last night and threw away his chance by missing the break and then failing to settle. We will have to get him settling better if he is to run well, certainly if we continue at a mile although at this stage he should probably stick to shorter.

Alezanna got a fright in the parade ring on Sunday and reared unseating James Doyle and therefore had to be withdrawn which is frustrating, but fortunately neither horse nor rider came to any arm and we will have her out again shortly as it was most uncharacteristic of her. We suspect she wasn’t expecting the jockey to mount and it caught her out a bit. We will do some practice at home before she reappears on the course.