Cathedral Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

A field of ten go to post for this exciting Listed contest which promises to be a fascinating race, our Cathedral Stakes tips and betting preview is below.

IN SUMMARY: Richard Fahey’s MR LUPTON has been in fine form since making his seasonal reappearance and he arrives here on the back of an excellent third in a Listed contest last time out. He’s the top-rated runner in today’s field based on official ratings and he can beat these before stepping up into Group company. Glass Office has Group 2 winning form to his name and is worth close attention in the betting now making his reappearance off a long absence.

1 DARK EMERALD – Has begun to struggle in some of the better races over the past year or so but the drop back in trip is a major positive having won twice over 6 furlongs on his last two starts over the trip. The ground should be absolutely fine for him and the booking of Fran Berry is a positive although he needs to take a big step forward to get the better of some of these and is best opposed.

2 DARK SHOT – Flew home to finish second of 19 in the Epsom Dash last time out and he was unlucky not to win that having found trouble in running. He’s better than a mark of 89 and he’s worthy of his chance in this although the step up in trip is a slight doubt having performed best over the minimum trip. He may find this on the tough side but he’s clearly improving and must enter calculations for a yard with an 11% strike rate in the past fortnight.

3 GLASS OFFICE – Recorded a major shock when winning the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes at York over 6 furlongs in Good ground when sent off 40/1. He found life too difficult in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot but the best of his form entitles him to be a major player in this. He’s been off the track for 2 years which is a major concern so he’s worth close attention in the betting which may provide clues as to how ready he is.

4 MR LUPTON – Top-rated of today’s runners with an official mark of 113 and Richard Fahey’s runner brings some excellent form into this race. He’s finished 213 respectively on his last three starts this season which includes a third placed effort in a Listed contest at Windsor last month. He was held up that day and was slightly too far off the pace and he will benefit from a more prominent ride today. Big chance in this.

5 MYTHMAKER – Arrives here on the back of a neck success at Haydock last time out in a Class 2 event. That’s a decent bit of form and he has placed twice in Listed company on the All-Weather so he’s more than up to getting competitive in this grade. The yard has been relatively quiet of late but he will love this track and these conditions and he’s likely to be in contention today for the Bryan Smart yard.

6 TROPICS – Finished more than 5 lengths behind Mr Lupton when the pair met in a Listed contest at Windsor last month and he may have just needed that run off a long break. He will strip fitter today and should be closer to the pace and he has the form in the book to win this although he was also off the track for a fair while and will need to show improvement to come out on top in this. Better than these in his prime but there are concerns he’s not the same horse now.

7 PIXELEEN – Has been a consistent mare for the Malcolm Saunders stable and she arrives here on the back of a decent fourth of sixteen at Nottingham in a Listed event. She’s the lowest rated runner in today’s field and she may find this slightly too tough but she’s clearly in good heart and Josephine Gordon rode a winner for this stable on Friday so connections will be hopeful lightning strikes twice in this. Others make more appeal.

8 SPRING FLING – Two wins from 16 career starts isn’t much to shout about but Henry Candy’s runner did finish fourth of ten in a Listed contest at Haydock last time out. That was a much-improved effort following a poor seasonal reappearance and he should come on again although his last career success came in a much weaker race than this. Others make more appeal today with better form in the book.

9 STELLARTA – Another nice mare and Michael Blanshard’s runner has performed with credit in two fair handicaps on her last two starts. She outran her odds last time out at Newmarket having been sent off 33/1 and she will appreciate this faster ground today. She has more to do if she is to win this Listed event and it may pay to look elsewhere for a stable without a winner from their last 8 runners in the past fortnight.

10 EQITRAAN – Lightly-raced 3yo who makes his seventh career start today. He receives 2lbs from the field which leaves him well-in with plenty of his opponents although he arrives here on the back of a poor effort in a Class 2 handicap last time out. The ground may have gone against him that day and he could bounce back to form in this having shown to enjoy these conditions earlier this season. The betting should be revealing.