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Newmarket plan for Coventry Stakes runner-up Advertise

Calyx was a good winner of the Coventry Stakes but will lock horns again in the Prix Morny with runner-up Advertise
Calyx was a good winner of the Coventry Stakes but will lock horns again in the Prix Morny with runner-up Advertise

Connections of Coventry Stakes runner-up Advertise have confirmed he will head to Newmarket before attempting to avenge the speedy colt’s defeat by the John Gosden-trained Calyx in France.

The Martyn Meade-trained son of Showcasing was beaten a fast-finishing length in the 23-runner Group 2 Coventry Stakes over 6f at Royal Ascot last week.

Meade’s son and assistant, Freddie, said: “The plan is for Advertise to run in the July Stakes (Thursday, July 12) and then take on that beast of Mr Gosden’s again in the Prix Morny.

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“He will improve a ton for that run and, in time, Advertise will be a lovely horse. His action is still a little bit all over the place, but we think an awful lot of him and we think he will become a monster.”

Meade was less enthusiastic over Eminent, who was beaten over 13 lengths by Poet’s Word in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Eminent, placed in the Irish Champions Stakes and beaten just over four lengths in the Eclipse last season, has yet to find his form in two runs this term, and Meade said: “We have a few options but have not really discussed what we’ll do with him.

“He has come out of the race fine, but it is a bit of a head-scratcher, as he has not been performing to the level we know he can.

“We were pleased with him going into Royal Ascot but he’s not finishing off his races for some reason.”

Eminent could still take on Investec Derby winner Masar in the Group 1 Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday week, however.

Meade added: “He is in the Eclipse, but we are humming and harring about what to do.”

The big race this weekend is the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, where Saxon Warrior is a best-priced 4/7 with Genting Bet to give Aidan O’Brien a 13th win in the race. The 2,000 Guineas winner, who was beaten into fourth by Masar in the Investec Derby at Epsom, will face a maximum of 13 rivals at the Curragh.

They include Epsom runner-up Dee Ex Bee, who was supplemented into the race along with Godolphin’s Old Persian, who landed the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the Mick Halford-trained Gallinule Stakes winner Platinum Warrior.

O’Brien believes that Saxon Warrior will be more at home at the Curragh, having been unsuited by the undulations of Epsom.

He said: “We are very happy with Saxon Warrior, everything has gone smoothly since Epsom. We think he was a little bit babyish and taken aback by the track and everything.

“He has done all his running on uncomplicated tracks and that was the first time he had to encounter anything like that.”

There are five British meetings on Wednesday: at Salisbury, Carlisle and Worcester in the afternoon, while Kempton and Bath offer evening racing.

Salisbury’s feature on a seven-race card is the 1m4f Whistbury Manor Stud Bilbury Cup Handicap, where eight runners are scheduled to go to post.

They are headed by the Martyn Meade-trained Infrastructure, who has been placed on his last three starts since making a belated debut in April.

The three-year-old is stepping up in trip, having been a length runner-up to subsequent Royal Ascot King George V runner-up Corgi in a decent 1m2f handicap at Sandown last month.

Freddie Meade said: “It was a bit frustrating at Sandown last time. He got stuck in a pocket but the form of that race has worked out, with Corgi running well at Royal Ascot and Desert Path (sixth) winning at Windsor on Monday night.

“Infrastructure ran over an extended mile at Nottingham (when third) and the winner (Ibraz) has won again since, so the form is solid and we think he will be better over further. He is progressive and he should have a good chance.”

The in-form Sir Michael Stoute saddles Mekong, who also stakes a step up in trip that he appears to have been crying out for if his two runs this season are to be taken at face value.

Drill, trained by Luca Cumani, is one of two last-time-out winners in the field, having scored on Chelmsford’s all-weather surface last week. He has to cope with a 6lb weight hike.

Mark Johnston, who had a couple of Royal Ascot winners to continue his fine form, saddles Burgonet, who seeks a four-timer following wins in a Newmarket maiden and subsequent handicap successes at Leicester (1m4f), and at this track off a 2lb lower mark and over 2f shorter.

Top weight Mandalayan (Jonathan Portman), Blazing Saddles (Ralph Beckett) and King Lund (Andrew Balding) also comprise what looks a competitive renewal.

Wednesday’s Selections

SALISBURY: 2.10 Forseti, 2.40 Kasbah, 3.10 It’s the Only Way, 3.40 Valcartier, 4.10 Infrastructure (nb), 4.40 Okool, 5.10 THIMBLEWEED (NAP)

CARLISLE: 2.00 Baby Steps, 2.30 Silver Dust, 3.00 Strong Steps, 3.30 Mon Beau Visage, 4.00 The Navigator, 4.30 Dance Diva, 5.00 Kalagia

WORCESTER: 2.20 Get Ready Freddy, 2.50 Monbeg Legend, 3.20 Aubusson, 3.50 Rose Crown, 4.20 Sky Pirate, 4.50 Another Drama, 5.20 Court Out

KEMPTON (AW): 5.40 Noteworthy, 6.10 Spirit Kingdom, 6.40 Sporting Chance, 7.10 Sweet Symphony, 7.40 Ptarmigan Ridge, 8.10 Dawn Choir, 8.40 Heron

BATH: 5.50 Fanan, 6.20 Fortune And Glory, 6.50 Prairie Spy, 7.20 Case Key, 7.50 Volpone Jelois, 8.20 Guild, 8.50 Crystal Deauville

Check out all the latest odds for Tuesday’s action and remember, Genting Bet offer Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK and Irish racing daily from 12.00pm