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Cockney Rebel is begging to be taken on at 11/8. Comparisons to Rock of Gibraltar are ridiculous at this stage and even though he won the Irish Guineas well the form leaves a lot to be desired. This race is between Excellent Art and Dutch Art in my opinion with He's a Decoy no a total no-hoper at 33/1. Cockey Rebel win and place lay. Queen Anne Stakes: Have spent the week weighing up George Washington and have finally fallen on the lay side. He was a dangerous proposition at his best and whether he is anywhere near that now we will only know after the race. An interesting stat i read in the racing post is that no seasonal debutant has won this race since 1997, although I have no had time yet to go through these previous races to see how many have tried it's probably a noteworthy stat. Cockney Rebel pulled hard for the first two furlongs and still won a shade cosily. Dutch Art is far too short and his stamina will be stretched again tomorrow. Duke Of Marmalade and He's A Decoy are screaming out for 10f and are no-hopers tomorrow.

I have no doubts that Cockney Rebel is the best horse in the race, and, like Perpetual, think that he would be odds-on if trained by a big stable. The only thing that might scupper him is a false pace, which is entirely possible, and is enough to put me off piling into him. Duke Of Marmalade thrived because of an excellent ride today - the importance of bagging the rail into the home straight on that joke of a course can't be underestimated. As AOB said in today's paper, he had a setback over the winter and he will continue to improve. I wasn't to know that and could only judge him on his Guineas performances this season, which strongly suggested that the best of him won't be seen till he gets 10f. I still believe that. Achilles Of Troy has bags of early pace but hasn't been seeing out his races the last twice. Hence my belief he'll prove best on a sharp track - at least until he strengthens up.

You've got to form opinions, you've got to be dogmatic about them as well or else you'd never bet. Trainers balls it up regularly - even the best of them. For example, last year AOB ran Race For The Stars over 10f at The Curragh after she'd failed to stay the distance at Goodwood two starts prior to that. I place laid her at 1/2. Shameful after timing it may be, but it just shows you can't always trust trainers to place their horses to suit their capabilities. Another example: George Washington is entered in the Eclipse. I can't understand that move after he wobbled over the line in the Breeder's Cup Classic at that distance. Hopefully he takes up the engagement - his hype will ensure he's another short price and another profitable place .....  "