Michelangelo can do masterstrokes

MICHELANGELO CAN take a considerable step along the racing ladder by landing the Casco Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood.

Trainer John Gosden and owner Bjorn Neilsen linked up to take this invariably informative Listed affair with Masked Marvel 12 months ago, with the race acting as a springboard for St Leger glory.

Michelangelo has a long way to go before being able to replicate such beguiling exploits, but he is unquestionably a horse laden with potential.

The horse is one whose pedigree lends itself beautifully to middle distances

Although the Cocked Hat has long been considered a late trial for next week’s Epsom Derby, only one horse, PERENNIAL, is still clutching on to a golden ticket.

His sombre return to action in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket last month, however, is enough to see him passed over for Gosden’s inmate in Sussex.

The Galileo colt presumably has the King Edward VII Stakes as his mid-summer target, for which he is likely to be a much warmer order with a big display here.

North Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan has enjoyed a vintage May, with Tiddliwinks’ success in the Duke of York Stakes the obvious highlight.

And with Ryan’s juveniles also in the pink of health, now looks the time to support Musselburgh aspirant SURELY SPEIGHTFUL.

The Speightstown filly showed plenty of zip on her debut at Ascot a fortnight ago before becoming unstuck in the bog-like conditions.

Surely Speightful should have gained plenty for that blow-out and looks a danger to all.