Christmas can come early on Thursday with Barsanti fancied to bounce back in the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at the July Festival
Roger Varian's five-year-old was slightly below form at Royal Ascot but looks to have a leading chance in the Group 2
BARRING accidents, Barsanti should run a massive race in the Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.
Roger Varian's six-year-old makes plenty of appeal at 9-2 for the Group 2, which is the feature race on the opening day of the July Festival.
The gelding enjoyed a brilliant year in 2016, winning four of his seven starts including a pair of valuable handicaps at York.
He raised his game without winning in a light campaign last season, with a close second to Idaho in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot his best finish.
The son of Champs Elysees made a successful return to action this term in a Listed race at Ascot in May, gamely getting the better of Mirage Dancer, who will re-oppose at Newmarket.
However, he was slightly disappointing when only fourth behind Crystal Ocean in the Hardwicke last month.
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He may have had one or two excuses that day, though, with the steadily-run nature of the race working against him.
The Varian stable was also going through a relatively quiet spell at the time, but his runners are back in red-hot form now - he trained four winners in a single day last week.
On paper this looks a weak Group 2, with the suspicion that Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee was flattered by his finishing position at Epsom.
He has since disappointed in the Irish Derby and quick ground doesn't look his cup of tea.
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Barsanti has already beaten Mirage Dancer this season and their doesn't appear to be any obvious reason why the form should be turned around.
Duretto drops in trip and will likely get caught out for pace, while the exciting Raa Atoll looks sure to go for the Bahrain Trophy earlier on the same card.
The rest of the runners are much of a muchness, and the July Course at Newmarket could play to Barsanti's strengths.
Jockey Andrea Atzeni can wind him up from a long way out, and he looks a rock-solid bet with conditions to suit.