Longer trip in Burradon Stakes should be perfect for hot favourite Megallan

Ladbrokes Burradon Stakes (Listed) | 1m | 3yo | ITV4/Sky

Ante-post players are looking to land a gamble on Megallan, who opened as big as 7-4 for this Listed prize on Monday but has been all the rage with the betting public and is now into a shade of odds-on, and his rating suggests the new price is a more accurate reflection of his chance.

Megallan has taken a well-planned route to the top, with a programme that began with a creditable runner-up effort in the prestigious Haynes, Hanson and Clark conditions event at Newbury's Mill Reef meeting.

Improvement was evident when he took fourth in the Autumn Stakes on his next outing. That is undeniably the best piece of form on offer in this field – winner One Ruler finished second in a Group 1 when next seen, while runner-up Van Gogh sauntered home in the Criterium International.

An ambitious Vertem Futurity bid was not rewarded for Megallan himself, although heavy ground rated a valid excuse on that occasion.

However, it was his strong finishing kick on his reappearance in the Spring Cup at Lingfield that really sparked enthusiasm. Megallan broke slowly and was briefly outpaced rounding the home bend when Apollo One quickened up off a slow pace.

Although he could not get to the aforementioned winner, the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt scythed through the pack and reduced the winning margin to just a short head thanks to three sub 11-second furlongs (the only horse in the field to post those sectionals).

The way he hit the line suggests he's crying out for the return to this trip and it is eminently possible that he will extend the new father-and-son training partnership's fine start together.

On official ratings, Final Voyage (93) and Ghost Ruler (86) have a mountain to climb with the favourite off level weights. Ruling out sharp, improving types is foolish, especially when their best form has come on the all-weather, but it would be a surprise if either contested the finish.

Legion Of Honour: this is his toughest assignment yetCredit: Grossick Racing

That leaves Legion Of Honour, who built on his debut second when denying two subsequent winners at this track 134 days ago. Course form is important here and his ability has no ceiling, although this is clearly his hardest assignment to date and fitness is taken on trust on his return from a notable absence.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

Megallan seeks to make amends

Lengths lost at the start translated into a defeat by inches for Megallan at Lingfield last time, and connections are hoping to remedy that with a step up in trip in this Listed contest.

By Kingman out of a half-sister to Derby winner Golden Horn, distance is unlikely to be any sort of issue for Megallan and this race quickly entered the mind of co-trainers John and Thady Gosden after the narrow loss at Lingfield.

John Gosden said: "He finished well to be second in a Listed race over seven furlongs at Lingfield after which we picked out this race as it's a stiff mile. We've been pleased with him since."

While only four runners go to post for this year's contest, which was won by subsequent Belmont Stakes and Dubai World Cup runner-up Gronkowski in 2018, the three challengers to Megallan all have winning form to their names.

Final Voyage has landed his last four starts and Ghost Rider his last two, but it is the lightly raced Legion Of Honour who appears to have the most to offer up against the market leader.

A 50-1 shot for next month's Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, Legion Of Honour was a course winner in November after he missed the summer with a small setback.

Roger Varian, who trains the son of Wootton Bassett for owners Teme Valley, said: "He's a nice colt and he's been working well this spring in advance of this race.

"We're looking forward to him this year and this looks like a nice starting point. A mile at this course suits him."
Reporting by Peter Scargill

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