Views from connections ahead of the feature action on Saturday

Eagerly awaited return to action

Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, Haydock 3.00 | Click here for card & free video form

Anmaat makes his return to action from over 400 days off in the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

Winner of the Group Three contest contest two years ago for Owen Burrows, which came shortly after a major handicap success in the John Smith’s Cup, he ended that campaign with a gutsy victory in the Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp.

Last season he returned with a satisfactory effort behind Derby winner Adayar at Newmarket and took his form to new heights with Group One honours in the Prix d’Ispahan. However, in being prepared for the Coral-Eclipse he picked up an injury and has not been seen since.

“We still don’t know if we’ve seen the best of him yet, he’s lightly raced – just 12 races as a six-year-old, which is not many,” said Burrows.

“It will be great to see him back and all being well he’ll run a nice race and we can start planning then for the rest of the year. He needed his first run last year in the Gordon Richards behind Adayar when he had a penalty and I’m sure it will be similar this time, but as long as he runs a nice race and shows his old enthusiasm we can look forward then.”

The William Haggas-trained Al Mubhir arrives on the back of a good Listed win at Sandown, a career-best effort on a step up to 10 furlongs.

Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager to his owner, Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, said: “Any rain will be a help, but I think we saw a massive improvement in the way he travelled at Sandown up at a mile and a quarter and this is hopefully what is going to help him find more improvement, which he will need because it is a strong event.

“I was very impressed with him at Sandown and he will be better with a little bit of cut in the ground – as long as it’s good he will be fine, but any rain would be appreciated. I do think the mile and a quarter will bring about further improvement and I like to think he will be at least 7/8lb better over that trip than he was a mile.

“Obviously Anmaat will take a lot of beating and he won a Group One last time. He’s got the class about him and chased home a Derby winner at Newmarket before that and as well as being a consistent horse, his level form is very high.

“Then you have Lord North and he can throw in a good one as well and if he turns up at his best he won’t be far away either.”

Haggas also runs Mujtaba, while Richard Hughes’ Bracken’s Laugh and Sir Michael Stoute’s veteran Regal Reality also add depth.

Jack Channon’s Certain Lad is no spring chicken at eight but appears as good as ever having won a Listed race in France by seven lengths last time out.

“Certain Lad has been a brilliant horse for us the last few years and he’s been in great form since France, we’ve just been waiting for some decent ground that overlaps with the right race for him,” said Channon.

“Haydock is a course that suits him down to the ground, he has a great record there and if the ground is good then it will be perfect for him and I think he goes there with a great chance.”

Tucker hopes for better luck

FBD Hotels And Resorts Heritage Hotel Phoenix Sprint Stakes, Curragh 3.25 | Click here for card & free video form

Moss Tucker will make the short journey from Osborne Lodge to defend the FBD Hotels And Resorts Heritage Hotel Phoenix Sprint Stakes crown he won 12 months ago at the Curragh.

Trained by Ken Condon, whose training base is situated less than two miles from the Kildare track, the six-year-old made all to secure the Group Three title by two and a quarter lengths before dropping back in trip to win the Flying Five Stakes at the same venue a month later.

A tilt at the Prix de l’Abbaye wrapped up his 2023 campaign, resulting in a midfield finish, before claiming Listed honours under a penalty at Naas in March.

Moss Tucker has not been seen since finishing seventh in the Greenlands Stakes in May and Condon is relishing his return this weekend with a busy autumn campaign lined up.

“He seems fine. He had an aborted trip to Goodwood, there was rain forecast that didn’t materialise,” Condon said.

“It’s (Curragh) a different track, just the layout, we had a bit of rain earlier in the week so I’m sure it will be great and with the autumn campaign in mind he hasn’t raced for quite some time. There’s a couple of big targets and you’d like to get a race under his belt.

“He’s been ready to go a couple of times and the ground has just dictated it. He’s in good shape, he does run well at the Curragh and has done in the past. I’m hoping he can put up a good performance.”

Connections of Electric Storm are anticipating another strong performance when she makes the trip across the Irish Sea.

The James Tate-trained filly, who won both starts as a three-year-old, has been productive since stepping up to black-type races this campaign, which began with a runner-up finish in the Lansdown Stakes at Bath in April.

She claimed her first success at Listed level in the Cecil Frail at Haydock in May, before being headed by Shouldvebeenaring in the closing stages of a Group Three at Deauville last month. Ryan Moore was aboard the four-year-old for her narrow defeat last time out and the pair are reunited at the Curragh as she looks to stamp her mark in Group company.

Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager to owner Saeed Manana, believes Electric Storm will only improve ahead of her sixth career start.

“She’s an improving filly and she got nabbed the last stride at Deauville last time, I thought she had won there. She ran a really great race,” Robinson said.

“That was Ryan’s first time on her and he will probably have learned a bit more about her going forward to this weekend. I don’t know how good she could end up being, but she’s very progressive and I like her a lot. She’s getting better and better every time and it should be perfect ground, I’m looking forward to watching her.”

Big-spending Wathnan Racing are hoping to build on their impressive week at Goodwood, with Archie Watson’s Shartash running in the six-furlong contest.

The four-year-old was five and a quarter lengths behind winner Khaadem in eighth on his Wathnan debut at Royal Ascot, but got much closer last time out when headed close to the line by Shouldvebeenaring and Electric Storm at Deauville in July.

“Shartash is obviously coming back in class a little bit,” Wathnan’s European racing adviser Richard Brown said.

“We would probably have preferred a bit more rain, but I don’t think it will be rattling and we’re happy for him to take his chance.”

Adrian Murray admitted Valiant Force is an unknown quantity after finishing down the field in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh last month.

“He’s been disappointing his last two runs and he will run if it’s quick ground. If it turns soft we might pull him out as he doesn’t enjoy soft ground,” Murray said.

“He’s very good at home, but it’s a bit of a fact-finding mission on Saturday. He’s showing us at home he’s as good as he’s ever been so we have to run him and see.”

British interest is rounded off with James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue, while Givemethebeatboys runs for Jessica Harrington and My Mate Alfie starts for Ger Lyons.

The Charles O’Brien-trained Big Gossey is eyeing successive triumphs at the Curragh, Jakajaro lines up for David Marmane and Dylan Browne McMonagle rides Ano Syra for John James Feane.

Torivega, trained by Sheila Lavery, Michael O’Callaghan’s Twilight Jet and the Patrick Foley-trained Tango Flare complete the 13-runner field.

One of our nicer fillies

JenningsBet Sweet Solera Stakes, Newmarket 3.40 | Click here for card & free video form

Lake Victoria could give Aidan O’Brien his first success in the JenningsBet Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket.

Not many races of note have eluded the Ballydoyle handler throughout his decorated career, but this Group Three is one missing from his CV and he could have identified the perfect candidate to initiate change.

A game winner of a Curragh maiden on debut, the form of that race now reads strongly, with the runner-up Red Letter winning in style on her next start and on course for Group-race engagements of her own in the future.

Regally-bred as a daughter of Frankel out of the dual Group One-winning mare Quiet Reflection, Lake Victoria now makes an immediate step up in grade on her second start and with Ryan Moore required at the Curragh, it is Sean Levey who has been handed steering duties on the July course. Swaziland-born Levey spent six years as an apprentice at Ballydoyle before relocating to England.

“We were very happy with her debut and we think she’s happy for another run,” said O’Brien.

“We’re hoping she’ll run a nice race and we think the experience will do her good. We’ve trained a few out of Quiet Reflection, but she’d be the sharpest, being by Frankel, the others were more middle-distance types, she looks the quickest one.

“Her maiden form looks strong, the second has won well since and she’d be one of our nicer fillies, we liked her when she ran.”

Charlie Appleby is another seeking to break his Sweet Solera duck, relying on Mountain Breeze, who has shown plenty of ability so far.

Twice a winner on the Rowley Mile earlier in the campaign, the half-sister to Pinatubo was a respectable fourth behind Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, before giving Arabian Dusk most to think about over six furlongs at this track in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.

“We feel that stepping up to seven is the right way for Mountain Breeze and it should produce a bit more improvement,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.

“She should be very competitive on the back of what she has already achieved and this will hopefully open up a few more doors for her heading into the autumn.”

Karl Burke won this with subsequent Classic heroine Fallen Angel 12 months ago and owners Clipper Logistics seek back-to-back victories with Liberalised, who was back in eighth here in the Duchess of Cambridge when last seen.

Like Mountain Breeze, the daughter of Kodiac steps up to seven furlongs, while similar applies to Hugo Palmer’s Dream Voyager, who went into one or two notebooks when opening her account at Salisbury.

Meanwhile, Andrew Balding’s Flaming Stone was sent off favourite for Sandown’s Star Stakes only 16 days ago and is now bidding to get back on track having got stuck in soft ground when third at the Esher track.

“She came out of Sandown well, I know the ground was classed as good but the jockeys reported it was closer to soft than good,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“William Buick just felt she wasn’t comfortable on the soft ground and a return to good to firm this weekend should suit. She’s a nice filly and we’ll be hoping to add some more black type to the pedigree.”

It was Ollie Sangster’s Celestial Orbit who accounted for Flaming Stone at Sandown and the Manton trainer is represented by the maiden Angelica Bay here.

Gemma Tutty’s York debut winner Elsie’s Ruan completes the field of seven heading to the start.

A mile is her trip

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes, Haydock 4.45 | Click here for card & free video form

Last year’s Oaks third Caernarfon continues to forge her new career at a mile when she heads to Haydock for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes.

A standout performer for Jack Channon since taking over the licence from his father Mick at the family’s West Ilsley Stables, the daughter of Cityscape was tried over further as a three-year-old, most notably picking up the bronze medal behind Soul Sister at Epsom last summer.

However, with revised thoughts that a mile may be her optimum trip, connections have changed tack of late, successfully dropping back in distance to claim the Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract on her penultimate start, where she was tasting her first success since her juvenile days.

“She won over a mile at Pontefract really well and if the ground could be good for her, it would be ideal,” said Channon.

“She ran a cracker over in Ireland last time and it was probably just a furlong too far for her that day and she got a little bit tired. That being said, she ran another great race and finished third and got some more black type. She has to carry a bit of a penalty but she goes to Haydock with a very good form chance.”

Having seen the petrol tank flash red when stretched out to nine furlongs for the Curragh’s Meadow Court Stakes last month, she is now back down to a mile once again and a distance Channon feels is what is required to see Caernarfon at her very best.

The handler added: “I think a mile is her trip now and she certainly had every chance to go and win that race in Ireland and Ronan (Whelan) felt she just ran out of gas the last 100 yards.

“She won over a mile at Pontefract and that’s what we’re going off, but I think that is her trip and a trip she is bred to get. We stretched her at three and had some success doing that, but now a mile looks about right for her.”

Caernarfon will have to concede 10lb to Ralph Beckett’s Indelible, with the Juddmonte-owned filly seeking a first stakes success having made two creditable efforts on the big stage the last twice.

Fourth in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot, she was then second to Spiritual on unsuitable ground in Sandown’s Coral Distaff, with connections relishing the prospect of a sounder surface in the north west.

“She’s a lovely filly and she ran a good race on her last start when the ground was on the soft side, which wouldn’t have been ideal,” said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager.

“I think the return to faster ground will suit her and the form of the last race at Sandown looks solid, so hopefully she can run well and become a stakes winner on Saturday and then progress over the rest of the season.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Strutting was ahead of Indelible when second at the Royal meeting and again ran with credit when placing in handicap company at Goodwood only 11 days ago.

The final three-year-old in the line-up is Ed Walker’s American Arrow, who impressed when winning on debut here over seven furlongs and immediately has her sights raised.

Amongst the remainder, Richard Spencer’s Naomi Lapaglia has been showing real consistency of late and attempts to build on her third in the Valiant Stakes at Ascot, while William Haggas’ Orchid Bloom was third in this contest 12 months ago and would become a major player again if conditions turned soft.

Sunday

15.04 Deauville - Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois

Charyn can make a claim for being the best older miler in training if he can follow up his Royal Ascot win in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.

Roger Varian’s grey has won three of his four starts this season, with his sole defeat coming in the Lockinge behind Audience, a winner at Goodwood recently. The four-year-old then ran out a dominant winner of the Queen Anne Stakes under his regular partner Silvestre de Sousa and the pair combine again in what looks a top-notch renewal in France.

Varian said: “He’s in great form and I’m happy with him. We’re nearly there now and we’re looking forward to seeing how we get on. He’s grown into himself this year and is starting to look the finished article. He’s always been a good horse and he just seems to have found a new level this year, which is great for everyone involved. We’re enjoying the journey and had a great day at Royal Ascot and hopefully he has another big run in him on Sunday.”

In what is a clash of the generations, Richard Hannon fields Haatem, just behind his brilliant stablemate Rosallion in the Irish Guineas. He then dropped to seven furlongs to win the Jersey Stakes at the Royal meeting and takes on his elders for the first time.

“We gave him a little bit of time off to freshen up after Ascot, but Richard reports he’s in very good form,” said Richard Brown, European racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing. “It is obviously a very deep race, but he deserves to take his chance and we’re looking forward to seeing him run. We know he is tough and wears his heart on his sleeve, so he will put in a brave performance, I’m sure.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Inspiral, twice a winner of this race already, needs Ryan Moore to have a positive effect after two poor outings this season, while French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan also runs.

The one horse defending an unbeaten record is Simon and Ed Crisford’s Quddwah, who faces his toughest test to date.

“We discussed the Sussex, but we felt the track at Deauville, the straight mile would be more suitable for him. It’s a high-quality field, a very good race, but he’s got form to suggest he should be in the mix,” Ed Crisford told Sky Sports Racing.

“Callum (Shepherd) got on well with him at Ascot and has ridden him at home so it was an easy decision really to leave him on. The way Charyn won the Queen Anne was very impressive and if Inspiral can bounce back to form she’s a two-time winner of the race already, there’s the French Guineas winner there and Richard Hannon’s Haatem so they are all dangers. But we’re just hoping to run a really good race and we’ll learn a lot about him.

“I think he’ll suit a nice strong pace. When he hits the front Callum said he felt he was always doing enough and if they’d got to him (in the Summer Mile at Ascot) he would have gone again. I’m sure there will be pace with Big Rock in there.”

Maurizio Guarnieri is doing a rain dance ahead of Big Rock’s attempt to go one better than 12 months ago. He showed what he was capable of when the mud is flying when winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day, but has struggled this season on quicker ground.

His owners moved him to Guarnieri from Christopher Head in the winter, but he has disappointed in both the Lockinge under last year’s jockey Aurelian Lemaitre and Christophe Soumillon in the Queen Anne. Now Cristian Demuro takes over.

“Big Rock has pleased me since he came back from England when the ground was too quick,” said Guarnieri. “We know what he wants to be at his best so I have been dancing before the race for the rain! He was second in the Marois last year so we know he likes Deauville, but it is a very, very good race. The owners wanted Cristian to ride him this time so we will see how he gets on with him.”

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