Commonwealth Cup Tips: Elite Sratus Can Grab Group One

The Commonwealth Cup took a blow last week when Vandeek - the long time antepost favourite - was ruled out, but his conqueror last time out Inisherin has taken his spot as the market leader. Billy Grimshaw is looking forward to the race and has a selection to take on the shock last time out winner...

Perhaps Inisherin has always been a sprinter wrongly campaigned and his latest success, beating Vandeek into third with an all the way success at Haydock, is a marker of the true ability of the horse. I'm not convinced that race was up to standard, however, and so while I accept of course the favourite has a chance in here, I'm more than happy to take him on at sub 2/1 in places. Kevin Ryan is renowned for doing well with sprinters like Inisherin, but another trainer well regarded in terms of training speed in Karl Burke has an ownership mate I'm much more keen on at double the price.

ELITE STATUS showed glimpses of his obvious talent last season as a juvenile but would just as often fluff his lines or display his greenness. He always looked a shell of a horse at two but if his seasonal reappearance win at Newbury is anything to go by, he has certainly filled out now and he's a sprinter I'm hugely excited to see as a three year old now he has hit his potential. On that aforementioned Newbury run, he looked much more professional and Clifford Lee looked to have a smooth passage on board, pressing the button when he needed to for his horse to put the race to bed with minimal fuss.

That was only a listed contest but the winner did it in the style of a horse destined for the top. I'd anticipate him shortening up as the race time approaches given his profile, connections and the impression he made last time out so it could be a time for fast fingers.

This does not look a vintage Commonwealth Cup when compared to some of the brilliant renewals we've seen since the race's inception. The Harry Angel / Blue Point / Caravaggio renewal will always live in the memory and while we don't have a race that matches that one for hype, I do think my idea of the winner could be a very smart sprinter going forward.

There are a host of first time out winners in this year's renewal who have kicked off their three year old season in style in weaker races than they'll face here, and one of the most eye-catching was Evade on stable debut for Archie Watson over 7f at Epsom last time out. The stiff nature of Ascot's 6f means he will be more than comfortable over this trip here and I don't see him being tapped for toe despite proving his stamina. He should go close and rates a good each-way play at big odds.

Jasour brings very strong form indeed to the table on the back of his latest win over Adaay In Devon, who won the Scurry Stakes last weekend at Sandown and thus franked the form. Clive Cox won this race in 2020 and I would not be surprised to see his charge in the mix here. Of other the outsiders, Kind Of Blue for James Fanshawe makes appeal although this could be a tough ask on seasonal debut. He is from a rapid family and looked all speed in 2023.