Hugo Palmer’s progressive Hawksmoor (3.05) looks the one to beat in today’s G2 Rockfel Stakes and can land this afternoon’s feature on an excellent day’s racing at Newmarket under Harry Bentley. The daughter of Azamour made a winning debut on the all-weather and was immediately stepped up in class, beaten less than three lengths over course and distance in the Sweet Solera Stakes in July. She built on that performance when battling bravely in the G3 Prestige Sakes last time out at Goodwood and should be able to follow-up on her preferred soft ground.
Just four runners head to post for the G2 Joel Stakes with Time Test (3.40) found the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways by his trainer Roger Charlton. The son of Dubawi was last seen finishing fourth in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting, when far from disgraced on his debut in Gp 1 company. Frankie Dettori partnered the colt to Royal Ascot success in the Tercentenary Stakes and returns to the plate after missing the ride at York in favour of John Gosden’s Epsom Derby hero Golden Horn. The colt should get a lovely toe into the race by Custom Cut, with David O’Meara’s model of consistency bidding to land back-to-back renewals under regular partner Danny Tudhope.
Ryan Moore has missed over three months in the saddle through injury but returned to action yesterday aboard Sir Michael Stoute’s Peterhof and can partner Cannock Chase (4.50) to success for his former boss after a frustrating campaign for horse, jockey and trainer. The selection mirrors Time Test with last term’s brace of successes in the London Gold Cup at Newbury and the Tercentary Stakes at Royal Ascot before stepping-up in class thereafter. The well-bred colt returned from a break to chase home Racing History last month at Windsor and he can go one better up in trip tackling a mile and a half for the first time.
Luca Cumani‘s Richard of Yorke will be a likely favourite for this afternoon’s feature at Haydock, having made it third time lucky in handicap company earlier this month at Ascot. The Oasis Dream colt is up 4lb for that success but was fortunate to get the run of the race and preference instead lies with Sleep Easy (4.30) under Cam Hardie. The selection is one of two runners in the race for trainer Hughie Morrison, David Allan partnering stablemate Black Key, but appears the more progressive of the two. The son of Rip Van Winkle was well-backed when failing to justify favouritism last time out over course and distance but can make amends on the return to his preferred sounder surface.
Newmarket-based handler John Gosden won both 6f maidens on the corresponding card last term and Roger Varian can plunder further prize-money for the south with First Rate (3.20) taken to make a winning debut under Freddie Tylicki. The son of Kylacchy is a Cheveley Park homebred out of connections‘ Gp 1 winning filly Hooray and is bred to thrive as a juvenile. He can follow in the hooveprints of both parents and score at the first time of asking.
Mitchum Swagger (5.05) makes his debut handicapping from an opening mark of 85 and is a confident selection to maintain his unbeaten record under George Baker. David Lanigan’s gelding caused something of an upset on debut springing a 25/1 surprise in a warm Newbury maiden in the spring but can prove it was no fluke and make it two from two stepping up in trip.
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