Trainers with the inside track on a cracker headed by Caravaggio

Commonwealth Cup | Group 1 | 3yo | 6f | ITV/RUK

Caravaggio brings an unbeaten record and a huge reputation to what many regard as the race of the week.

An impressive winner of the Coventry Stakes a year ago, the son of Scat Daddy went on to land the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, although it was unquestionably a below standard renewal of that Group 1 event.

A setback ruled him out for the rest of the season and he was not seen again until winning the Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas last month, when he beat runner-up Psychedilic Funk by four and three-quarter lengths – the same margin by which he had beaten the same horse in the Coventry.

While holes can be picked in come of Caravaggio's form there is no doubting the high regard in which he is held at Ballydoyle. He is one of their big players at Royal Ascot this week, and Aidan O'Brien reports him in top form for today's task.

O'Brien said: "Caravaggio has tremendous speed and is probably the fastest horse we've had. We've been very happy with him since his Naas win and he's very well. This will be a step up for him in terms of class, but the ground will be ideal for him and the trip will suit."

O'Brien is also represented by the well-exposed Intelligence Cross. A Group 3 winner over the trip at the Curragh last year, Seamie Heffernan's mount is blinkered for the first time.

Caravaggio pros
Unbeaten and won the Coventry in good style year ago and is rated very highly by connections

Cons
Will need a career-best effort to retain his unbeaten record

Harry another Cox sprint star

Clive Cox has demonstrated his prowess with sprinters twice already this week, with Profitable beaten only by the freak Lady Aurelia in the King's Stand and Heartache hugely impressive in the Queen Mary.

If you had asked him quietly before the meeting which horse excited him most for Ascot it's a fair bet he would have nominated Harry Angel, although out of consideration to other owners he would probably have been too diplomatic to say it on the record.

Harry Angel appears to be the apple of his eye, and Cox nominated the Commonwealth Cup as his target immediately after a stylish win in last year's Mill Reef Stakes, which came off an absence that was put down to a minor stalls injury.

More than happy with the reappearance second in the Pavilion Stakes, giving weight, Cox was blown away, as we all were, when Harry Angel smashed Haydock's 6f track record in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes, after which Godolphin stepped in for him.

Cox said: "I couldn't be more pleased with the form Harry Angel has been in since the Sandy Lane and I'm really looking forward to running him. We know he's very effective on fast ground, but if they get rain I'm relaxed about that too.

"I think he's still not quite the finished article mentally but he's certainly gone the right way and I believe we can chisel a really fine edge on him with experience.

"Caravaggio might well be very special, but Harry Angel is pretty special too. He took more than a second off the Haydock course record, and just think about all the good horses who have gone down that path."

Cox also saddles Tis Marvellous, and said: "He broke the course record in the Robert Papin last year and has trained very well since the Pavilion. I don't doubt he'll put up a very solid effort."

Harry Angel pros
He was awesome in Sandy Lane Stakes, looking potential champion sprinter material

Cons
Nothing in hand of Blue Point on earlier form, and might be up against a superstar in Caravaggio

Ready to make a point

Blue Point was beaten both times he was stepped up into Group 1 company at two, but he looked Commonwealth Cup material when an impressive winner of the Gimcrack and confirmed he had trained on well when taking the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes over the course and distance in record time on his return.

He enjoyed a 4lb allowance there from the runner-up Harry Angel, which for some detracted from his achievement, but he travelled and quickened well and it was a performance connections were entitled to be thrilled with.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: "We've been very happy with Blue Point since he won the Pavilion Stakes and have been looking forward to this race. His preparation has been great and he has conditions to suit. He holds the track record and it should be a good burn up."

Pros
Classy sprint specialist who goes well on fast ground and looks guaranteed to run a good race

Cons
Might be up against two even quicker colts

What they say

Wesley Ward, trainer of Bound For Nowhere
We've been working him with Lady Aurelia for the last month and he's actually been working better than her. He's a bigger horse and has a long stride; six furlongs should suit him well.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Legendary Lunch
He tried to do everything a bit quickly at Ascot last time and couldn't quite finish off. He appears to be going much better now and hopefully he can find his two-year-old form and feature in this very competitive renewal.

Roger Varian, trainer of Victory Angel
Victory Angel made an impressive seasonal reappearance at Newmarket and it’s hard to explain his subsequent disappointment at the Guineas Meeting. He clearly needs to find plenty of improvement to get involved here, but we’ll let him take his chance.

Robert Cowell, trainer of Visionary
We're under no illusions and, like others, we're hoping one or two of the main ones don't run their races, but Visionary is in great form and tries his heart out. He's done nothing wrong all year, but the ground might just be on the quick side.

Charlie Johnston, assistant to father Mark, trainer of Yalta
We were really impressed with his work in the spring and expected him to go close in the Pavilion. At the time we were a bit deflated, but it was a dry run for this race and he still seems in good form. Lightning-fast ground would be perfect, but he could run a career-best and still be only fourth or fifth.

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