Trainer views and Keith Melrose's expert analysis for the Norfolk Stakes

Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) | 5f | 2yo | ITV/SKY

The Norfolk Stakes is best thought of as the true two-year-old championship at Royal Ascot. Yes, the average winner runs to about 5lb less than in the Coventry Stakes, but there are always big dreams for the Coventry winner. Traditionally that one will spend at least the next six weeks as favourite for the Guineas; sometimes they end the season as champion juvenile.

The Norfolk is all about the here and now. Few winners get even as far as the Commonwealth Cup the following season, but they are typically the quickest two-year-old around at that particular moment in mid-to-late June.

This season, early impressions matter even more than usual. These horses are closer to being fully formed than runners in the Coventry or Chesham and have therefore had to fit more development into the 18 days of this season that have passed so far.

You could tell before he made his debut at Newmarket two weeks ago that Eye Of Heaven was showing the right signs at home. He was backed as though defeat was impossible, and to all intents and purposes it was. He did not have the rail, virtually a prerequisite that week, but still won handily. In third, shaping second-best, was Tactical, who won Wednesday's Windsor Castle Stakes.

The vibes about Eye Of Heaven have been backed up by proxy. Of trainer Mark Johnston's first 32 juvenile runners of the season, eight have won. Eye Of Heaven is taken to be the best of another good bunch of early two-year-olds at Kingsley House.

Conversely, the usually feared raiding party from Wesley Ward's barn has not carried the same aura this year. Many of those he has sent have not even won their first starts in the US, including Golden Pal in this race, and his two Windsor Castle runners finished in midfield.

The one who gives Eye Of Heaven's backers most cause for concern on form is The Lir Jet, who looked aptly named when winning at Yarmouth by nearly three lengths. He has since been bought by Qatar Racing, whose Time Scale smashed the fifth in The Lir Jet's race, Ocean Star, at Chepstow on Monday.

In terms of how the race will be run, much may depend on how much rain falls at Ascot. Straight-course races over the first few days increasingly congregated on the stands rail. If the Norfolk runners stick to that approach, it would work somewhat to the detriment of Eye Of Heaven, who is in stall five of 13, and definitely give Oisin Murphy on The Lir Jet plenty to think about from stall one.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Draw no concern for 'live chance' The Lir Jet

Michael Bell is not concerned by the draw for his rapid juvenile The Lir Jet, who bids to emulate his sire Prince Of Lir by winning the Norfolk Stakes.

A stands-side draw appeared to be beneficial on the straight course on the first two days of the royal meeting, but Bell is not worried about stall one for The Lir Jet, who showed plenty of speed to win on his debut at Yarmouth by two and three-quarter lengths.

Bell said: "He’s taken that race well and looks to be on the ball since Yarmouth, so we’re very much looking forward to it.

Yarmouth winner The Lir Jet will run in the colours of Qatar Racing for the first timeCredit: Pool

"I don’t think the draw will be, with the size of the field, too much of an issue. The principals are drawn near him and there are only 13 runners."

Since that explosive debut, The Lir Jet has been bought by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani with every intention of trying to follow his sire, who won the Group 2 on soft ground in 2016. He will run in the Qatar Racing colours for the first time at Ascot.

Bell added: "From what I’ve seen of him he won't be inconvenienced by it [the surface].

"Sheikh Fahad bought him with a view to running in this race and he’s going there with a live chance."

Eye Of Heaven, who had the form of his debut win at Newmarket franked strongly by Windsor Castle first and fourth Tactical and Get It on Wednesday, is the likely favourite for the team of Mark Johnston and Frankie Dettori.

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Lipizzaner
He's the first horse we've had by Uncle Mo. He ran well on both his starts at Naas and we think he's fast.

Ben Haslam, trainer of Macho Pride
We're very happy with him, he's in good form. Ninety-nine per cent of the two-year-olds I train would improve for their first run and hopefully him winning for us first time out is a good sign. The ground is a little bit of an unknown, but they'll all have to go in it. Camacho's progeny have a bit of form on soft ground, so we'll see what happens. I'm happy with the draw, there's a bit of pace up there.

Richard Hughes, trainer of Nelson Gay
Nelson Gay did everything wrong on his debut but ran well. I'm hopeful he can improve on that and run a better race here. Soft ground is an unknown but quick ground didn't suit him at Yarmouth.

Read more:

ITV Racing hits eight-year high for viewers on first two days of Royal Ascot

Sheikh Fahad swoops to buy record-breaking Norfolk Stakes hope The Lir Jet

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