Convergent, Rebel's Romance Meet in Prince of Wales's

With good to firm ground expected for the opening day of Newmarket's July festival, it offers a stark contrast to the mudbath of the Coronation Cup Stakes (G1) at Epsom Downs Racecourse, where the Karl Burke-trained Convergent (IRE) was beaten 66 lengths into fifth behind Bay City Roller (IRE). The 4-year-old heads to Newmarket for the first time to contest the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G2) and is set to race on ground quicker than good for the first time in his career. However, despite Burke previously suggesting Convergent would prefer cut in the ground, his impressive John Porter Stakes (G3) success at Newbury on good ground in April, followed by his struggles in the rain at Epsom, suggests the opposite may be true. Stable jockey Clifford Lee, who rode Convergent in seven of his nine starts, believes the return to a sounder surface can help him bounce back. "We always thought he'd be better with a bit of juice in the ground," Lee said. "But once I rode him at Newbury, he found a gear that he wasn't able to show on soft ground. I was really delighted with him and I'm looking forward to his run at Newmarket. "He hated that soft ground at Epsom and I'm not sure he handled the track very well. He's such a big horse, but I think better ground at Newmarket will suit him better." Convergent earned a Racing Post Rating of 121 for his John Porter success, the highest by a Burke-trained runner this season, and the trainer echoed his jockey's thoughts. "The ground was horrendous (at Epsom) and, with the benefit of hindsight, I wish we hadn't run," Burke said. "It looked a nice race going into it and he just didn't cope. "He's a big, heavy horse, but he's in great shape. I don't think the size of the field matters as long as there's a bit of pace in the race, and I'm sure there will be." Godolphin superstar may be vulnerable The position in the history books for Rebel's Romance (IRE) is guaranteed as he embarks on the twilight of a career that has yielded more than £12 million in prize-money and counting. Godolphin's globetrotting superstar is the most reliable horse in training and has run to a Racing Post Rating of at least 110 on all bar one of his last 24 starts dating back to June 2022. That's an incredible record and Rebel's Romance's only defeats in that time frame have been in group 1s. Convergent registered an RPR of 121 at Newbury and deserves a pass for his Coronation Cup effort on bad ground. The two others who finished tailed off, Calandagan (IRE) and Illinois (IRE), bounced back to win good races on their next runs. The last time Rebel's Romance bettered a 122 RPR was in 2024 and he's never gone above 124 on that metric in spite of his impressive CV. "I've been very happy with Rebel's Romance coming into this. We felt this looked a suitable race, having toyed with the idea of going to Royal Ascot. We think he's in great nick and, if he turns up on his game, they'll have him to beat," trainer Charlie Appleby said.