RP Trophy: A first look at the declared runners

Three-card trick indeed. Aidan O’Brien has made damned sure that he’ll dominate the pre-race headlines for Saturday’s RP Trophy, by taking a completely different two-from-six to Doncaster from the pair he nominated earlier in the week.

Let’s not get too down on O’Brien, for now at least. After all, it’s difficult to infer what sort of conviction was in his earlier forecasts from ink on a page. Plus, he’s ended up sending across the member of his entered sextet that Timeform fancy is the most promising: Jacobean.

Jacobean was the appointed first string in a strong backend maiden at the Curragh the weekend before last and implied that was a correct deduction even if he didn’t explicitly prove it. He was notably green in finishing second to Royal Navy Ship and you fancy he’s the better long-term prospect.

If 13 days proves to be long-term enough it remains to be seen, of course. Aloft, the other declared Ballydoyle runner, is certainly more experienced after winning a Newmarket maiden last time though you fancy he’s closer to the crest of his hill. We’re only in the foothills but Jocobean’s range could be much higher. He might well go off shorter than the current 7/2 with favourite Elm Park being a bit Marks & Spencer, the solid choice rather than the fashionable one, so you’re advised to move quickly if you want Jacobean onside.

Those who followed the ante-post advice to back Restorer will be happy with declarations. He’s in and he’s pretty much halved in price even since Tuesday afternoon. That the field hasn’t quite cut up like it looked it would earlier in the week is the only minor grumble we can have.

With Tupi and Cock of The North deservedly placed in the bracket of outsiders, that only really leaves Snoano. This feels like a bonus race for him as he’d already had his reappearance run mapped out for him in the Sandown Classic Trial. That bit of planning from the Gosden yard does act as an endorsement of Snoano and you have to say he’s worthy of a place in this company.

It’s difficult to know what to make of Snoano’s Newbury win last time, though he and runner-up Acaster Malbis came clear of fairly useful juveniles and it was on soft ground. We wouldn’t go so far as to recommend Snoano at 10/1; it’s about his price on balance. It’s conceivable he’ll go to longer odds as the race approaches and the more obviously attractive runners, like Jacobean, lure punters in.

Recommended bet:

1pt win Jacobean in the RP Trophy