IF it was a heavyweight boxing decider the world would be going mad – and in racing terms Notable Speech vs Rosallion is just that as they smash up once again at Newbury.
The two Guineas heroes slug it out in the Group 1 Boylesports Lockinge Stakes at 2.35 — a one-mile contest won by some of the greats like Brigadier Gerard, Selkirk, Canford Cliffs, Frankel and Baaeed.
A race-fit Notable Speech defeated Rosallion in last year’s 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, running on powerfully to deny the Richard Hannon-trained runner by a length and a half.
Rosallion, though, would go on to the Curragh and take the Irish 2,000 before gaining his revenge on his old rival in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
That day Notable Speech flopped in seventh, while Rosallion, under regular partner Sean Levey, proved he was a tough nut in denying Henry Longfellow.
Afterwards, Notable Speech returned to his best in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and when a slightly unlucky third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar in the autumn.
But he proved he wasn’t bombproof once again when only fifth to Tribalist in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp.
Maybe he hated the soft ground that day.
So now we have round three of Notable Speech vs Rosallion.
I’m in the former camp as I think he might have better turn of foot.
But it’s hard to be dogmatic with both colts making their seasonal debut.
Charlie Appleby, the trainer of Notable Speech, had the 2023 Lockinge winner Modern Games go in after he ran at the Breeders’ Cup the previous year.
However, that horse had an outing in Keeneland the month before the Newbury test.
Make no mistake this is no two-horse race.
Dancing Gemini might easily be good enough for Roger Teal after two fabulous successes this term at Doncaster and Sandown.
He has back class at this level in the French Derby where he was a decent runner-up as a three-year-old.
Ryan Moore rides Dancing Gemini for the first time.
Kieran Shoemark, who rode him at Doncaster, is now on Karl Burke’s Fallen Angel, an Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine, while Rossa Ryan, who was aboard Dancing Gemini at Sandown last time, picks up David Menuisier’s Tamfana, who was second at the Esher track.
In a right old jockey merry-go-round, Oisin Murphy, who usually gets the Tamfana gig, switches to Lead Artist, a horse who has gone so well for Shoemark in the past!
One can only presume Murphy is on Lead Artist to keep mega owner Juddmonte happy although, to be fair, the John Gosden runner is rated 117 to Tamfana’s 116.
What a race. Just sit back and enjoy it.
That also goes for Newbury’s opening Group 3 Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes over a mile and a half at 12.50pm.
Some old favourites here, including the return of the former Ascot Gold Cup victor Courage Mon Ami.
He’s been off the track since August of 2023 so will surely need the run and further in time.
The in-form Al Aasy tries to repeat his success in 2021 and is raring to go for William Haggas, while King’s Gambit runs for Harry Charlton having been gelded.
He’s only tried this trip once before so stamina is a question.
The one that is worth a second look here is Sunway, who gets Shoemark on top for the first time.
There is no doubt the Menuisier runner is a bit of a character, and he holds his head high in the finish.
You actually have to go back to his juvenile days for the last time Sunway actually won a race, but he’s run well in defeat — including when second to Los Angeles in the Irish Derby and fourth to the mighy Goliath in the King George at Ascot.
I like him each-way but, with no natural front-runner in the line-up, only time will tell whether he’s held on to or connections employ a change of tactics.
Elsewhere I’m hoping for a huge run from Original Outlaw (1.40) in the JCB Handicap at Newmarket.
He’s another to have been gelded, and he promised quite a bit as a youngster, with a fine second at Salisbury to the Group-placed Royal Playwright.
That level of ability should mean he takes all the beating in a race like this rated 85 and the trip is ideal.
Ralph Beckett trains and Richard Kingscote takes the ride once again.
I suspect the latter could go well in all the ITV races at HQ.
Good luck to all and Yeeehaaa!
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