Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 19 May 2025

One of the personal benefits of writing the Dark Horses Annual is that I used to view most of the maiden and novice races that took place in the autumn.

I still managed to see many of them, but one race that eluded me was the 1m maiden run at Sandown on 8 August won by Pride Of Arras. Had I seen him I would certainly have had plenty to say about his performance before last week’s Dante Stakes.

It is most unusual to see a horse, especially a two-year-old debutant, make up as much ground in the final quarter mile up that daunting hill as he did.

Shuffled along from the outset, he looked held in fifth about six lengths off the pace two furlongs out, and it took him a furlong to pick up before surging clear inside the final furlong to win going away by three and a quarter lengths.

I don’t know what the finishing sectionals revealed – whether the others were stopping and his finishing effort was flattered – but I can’t recall ever seeing a juvenile in a maiden at this course win in such a manner.

Subsequent events have shown the form in a reasonable light … the second and third are now rated 90 and 93, putting the winner in on the low 100s.

That would have left him a few pounds adrift of the 112-rated Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Dante Stakes, but not by an insurmountable margin given his scope for improvement from his first run.

Of more concern regarding York was the slow start made by his stable, but Ralph Beckett said the colt had been working very well and they went there expecting a bold show.

In the Dante the colt had to show trackcraft beyond his experience, having to force his way through rivals to get a clear run before displaying a turn of foot to pull clear and hold the late run of Damysus.

Pride Of Arras should stay the mile and a half at Epsom.

In his two runs he has only found his stride in the final furlong and his dam, who won over a mile and a half, has produced three horses who won over hurdles.

Whether the runner-up Damysus or The Lion In Winter can reverse the form at Epsom are matters for discussion on another day, but as things stand this son of New Bay looks a thoroughly worthy candidate and a serious threat to Guineas winner Ruling Court.

Bye for now

Why wait a week? Receive Marten’s free horse racing publication Weekly Roundup the day it is written in full for free every Monday evening by clicking here & signing up for our free Newsletter

© Copyright in all Marten Julian Publications is strictly reserved by the publishers. No material therein may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from Marten Julian.