Barney Roy … A Great Prospect

I was most impressed by the manner of Barney Roy’s victory in Saturday’s Greenham Stakes.

There was good late money for the son of Excelebration, who had made a winning debut over a mile at Haydock last September. Following that success he was bought by Godolphin and, in my view, this could prove one of their better purchases.

There had been plenty of talk beforehand about Dream Castle, who had worked exceptionally well since his winning debut at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting, and for a long way it looked likely that he would win. However, Barney Roy responded bravely to James Doyle’s driving to get up alongside inside the final furlong and win going away by two lengths, with the third Zainhom four lengths further back.

The third is rated on 109, so taking this form literally the winner would merit a BHA figure of 121, which is just 1lb adrift of the 122-rated Churchill.

There are two key points to make about this race. The first is that it was run in a time almost a second and a half quicker than Dabyah’s race 35 minutes earlier, and we already know she is a proven Group class performer from last season’s French form.

The second is that this was over seven furlongs, and Barney Roy won over a mile last season and is bred for even further. His dam is a daughter of Galileo, so it’s easy to see why Richard Hannon thinks the Derby trip may be within his compass.

The analysis writer of the Racing Post raises a slight concern about how the winner will handle the Dip and undulations at Newmarket but in my view it will take an act of God to keep Barney Roy out of the frame in the Guineas. He should now have a BHA rating within a pound or two of the favourite, he will have recorded a decent speed figure and he will relish the return to a mile. He also displayed a gritty attitude at Newbury.

I cannot think of anything negative to say about him and prefer him to Craven Stakes winner Eminent, who was workmanlike in the manner of his victory.

Churchill also lengthens rather than quickens, so I anticipate this year’s 2,000 Guineas being more of a staying race than a speed test. If that is the case then it will suit Barney Roy, as he has the strongest staying pedigree of the three.

Bye for now

Marten