I'LL STICK TO THE RULES

Paul Jacobs reveals the Flat horses to look out for during the May meetings

ANCIENT RULES

There are of course any number of thoroughbreds I could have put forward from Charlie Appleby’s yard such is the strength in depth of the Newmarket set-up, particularly in the three-year-old colt division. The son of Lope de Vega only made it to the race course on the one occasion when contesting a maiden event at Newmarket in mid October.

Up against his odds-on stable mate, Military Order, who had already made his debut two weeks beforehand, the 6/1 shot broke nicely under Ryan Moore and was never too far away from the pace. When asked to go with the winner three furlongs out, he simply looked clue less and only really grasped what was required as they met the rising ground, devouring the turf and finishing a closing three-quarter-of-a -length second to the other boy in blue. The fifth and seventh home that day have both gone on to lose their maiden tag, so the form looks rock solid.

It would be fair to say, studying his blood lines, that the mile would be a bare minimum for him and the classic trip of 12 furlongs should be well within his domain as a three-year-old. He is already entered in the Dante Stakes as well as the Epsom Derby and it will tell us plenty if he goes straight to York or is sent to lose his maiden tag first as a stepping stone to greater glories.

INFINITE COSMOS