Mahogany looks good for Ian Levy Cup

MAHOGANY's Mouttet Mile run, kicking clear off the turn after being pressed for six furlongs by the best horses in the country, before being caught a half-furlong out by closers, was a massive effort under the circumstances.

None of the five horses chasing MAHOGANY - RUNAWAY ALGO, ATOMICA, SHE'S MY DESTINY, MAKEUPARTIST or I'VE GOT MAGIC - finished in the top five of the Mouttet Mile, emphasising the cracking pace, which led to EXCESSIVE FORCE storming home along the rail and DUKE flying on the outside to be beaten by a length.

EXCESSIVE FORCE returns in Saturday's Ian Levy Cup at eight and a half furlongs hunting a hat-trick of wins, however, the back-to-form American faces MAHOGANY who will have sparse company on the lead, which could be a death knell if stablemate JORDON REIGN's doesn't play spoiler.

Carrying 120lb with Dane Dawkins, MAHOGANY has no matching speed to contend with and should be toying with rivals into the straight. Like the Gold Cup, which MAHOGANY won by two lengths beating RUNAWAY ALGO, JORDON REIGN'S had no luck running in the Mouttet Mile.

Slammed by ATOMICA in the Gold Cup, JORDON REIGN'S ran a big race in the Mouttet Mile after swerving at the start and being simultaneously taken out by DUKE. JORDON REIGN'S had to settle behind a column of horses chasing MAHOGANY before charging as a team with EXCESSIVE FORCE with whom he came off the turn almost rubbing shoulders.

Having got into trouble at the gate in the Gold Cup and the Mouttet Mile, JORDON REIGN'S will have to get the perfect start in the Ian Levy to upstage stablemate MAHOGANY.

EXCESSIVE FORCE will relish the trip most but needs a solid pace to run at. CALCULUS, who was charging late in the Mouttet Mile when switched a furlong and a quarter out, will be among the closers with sights on MAHOGANY's bullseye.

However, it should be noted that though overhauled a half-furlong out, a winded MAHOGANY stayed on for fourth in the Mouttet Mile, a length and three-quarters behind EXCESSIVE FORCE, far from disgraced after being the only survivor of a 1:12.4 six-furlong split and hitting the furlong pole in 1:25.4.