Newmarket preview: Shadwell Joel Stakes (15.40)
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The Group 2 Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket looks a match on paper between Custom Cut and Time Test, and the latter is taken to come out on top in the 1m contest (15.40).
Trained by Roger Charlton, colt made impressive seasonal return when winning a hot handicap at Newbury in terrific style, coming from of the pace before showing an instant turn of foot to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths.
Time Test was the pitched into Group 3 company and put in a stunning display to land the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot by 3 1/2 lengths.
The three-year-old was always travelling strongly, and after making smooth headway a furlong from home quickened clear to score in effortless fashion in a fast time.
It was a most taking performance and Time Test was sent off a well-backed 4/1 second-favourite for the Group 1 Juddmote Stakes at York last month on the back of it.
Although the son of Dubawi could finish only a 4 3/4 length fourth, the runner-up Golden Horn has since come out and won the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes and the third home The Grey Gatsby is a really solid top class performer.
In the circumstances it wasn’t a bad run, and a reproduction should be more than good enough to see Time Test get back to winning ways now dropped in grade.
Custom Cut is a tough and consistent sort and looks sure to give it his best shot to land back to-to-back successes.
The gelding enjoyed a fine 2014 when completing a five-timer in this contest and looked better than ever when landing the Group 2 Sandown Mile on return to action, finding plenty to beat Here Comes When by a cosy 1 1/2 lengths.
Custom Cut has since run really well to finish runner-up in the Group 2 Diomed Stakes at Epsom and comes into the contest having landed a Group 2 contest at Leopardstown in good style.
The five-year-old is a real battler and if there are any chinks in Tim Test’s armoury then the son of Notnowcato will expose them.
Coral’s top tip: Time Test brings the strongest form into the contest and looks a worthy favourite to get the better of the admirable Custom Cut
