Spotlight

Outstayed over 1m1f on final start last term, which was also his only race on good to firm; progressive at 1m otherwise and laughed at his 21 rivals in the Spring Mile at Doncaster (good to soft) on reappearance seven weeks ago; up 8lb but that win came with huge authority and he's still low mileage.

Comment

Laughed at 21 rivals in Spring Mile at Doncaster (good to soft) seven weeks ago; up 8lb

Quotes

Spotlight

Can front-run; had 1m wins at Newmarket and York last season, with two seconds at Ascot in between including the Royal Hunt Cup; makes plenty of appeal on that evidence but needs to bounce back from an underwhelming reappearance when second favourite at Newmarket two weeks ago.

Comment

Plenty of appeal on 2025 evidence; needs to bounce back from an underwhelming reappearance

Quotes

Spotlight

Six races overall and his only two on turf resulted in one front-running win at Newmarket last April (1m2f, good) and another two weeks ago (1m, good to firm); being dropped back in trip worked a treat last time and, although hit with a 9lb rise, better still may well be forthcoming.

Comment

Dropping back to 1m worked a treat when he won well at Newmarket two weeks ago; up 9lb

Quotes

Spotlight

Has improved his rating almost every time, on last two outings taking second in strong 1m handicaps at Newcastle (AW) and Thirsk (good to firm); came from almost last when closing to half a length in 13-runner race last time and looks well capable of a prominent finish here despite 2lb rise.

Comment

Second in strong 1m handicaps at Newcastle (AW) and Thirsk (good to firm); keeps improving

Stable Tour

"He's won three of his five starts. He was very immature mentally and physically - he started by being upset in the stalls and was withdrawn - and then we started off by running in a hood over 6f round a bend. Gradually we've increased his trip from 6f to a mile and removed the hood as he's grown up mentally. He's grown up physically at the same time and I'd expect another step forward. His new mark of 92 demands a step forward but I'd like to think there's more in him. 09-07-25"

Quotes

Spotlight

Progressive most starts in 2025 and a strong finish took him to within a nose of victory against an all-the-way winner in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (1m1f, good to firm) on final outing; raised 4lb after that big-race performance but should still be of major interest if tuned up for this return.

Comment

Strong finish took him to within a nose of victory in the 1m1f Cambridgeshire at Newmarket

Stable Tour

"He's a big horse who I think has improved from four to five. He took a while to get the hang of things and it's taken us a while to get the hang of him, but I think he suits those big handicaps where they go a strong pace. Having run so well in the Cambridgeshire at the end of last season, I'll probably go back to Newmarket for the Suffolk Handicap at the Guineas meeting. I think he'll suit a Hunt Cup and I'm hopeful he can bag a good handicap at some point. I don't think we've got to his ceiling yet. 01-04-26"

"The plan is to run him in the Cambridgeshire. We're very happy with him. I think it'll suit him - he likes a strong pace, stays 1m1f, can quicken, and I think he has a nice profile for the race. He won really well at Southwell last time, was very good at Sandown the month before and didn't disgrace himself at Goodwood in between. I think he's on the upward curve. 24-09-25"

Quotes

Spotlight

Third in last year's Spring Cup over C&D and fourth in this race; next three starts were good as well and he was better than ever for reappearance second of 24 in the Spring Cup four weeks ago; up just 1lb, a leading player.

Comment

Better than ever for second of 24 in the Spring Cup four weeks ago; up just 1lb

Stable Tour

"He's shown himself to be very talented since we had him gelded. He's on the upgrade, performing consistently how we thought he could, and ran a blinder in the Spring Cup at Newbury. I've always thought he was a Group horse waiting to happen and I think he could massively outrun his odds in a very nice race this season. 21-04-26"

Quotes

Spotlight

7yo who's spent the vast majority of his career in Group or Listed races and this time last year he was fifth on this card in the Group 1 Lockinge; only his second handicap when, like so many others, he met traffic problems in the Spring Cup over C&D (28-1) four weeks ago; Rossa Ryan gets back on board and they are not totally dismissed.

Comment

7yo who's spent vast majority of his career in Group or Listed races; 5th in 2025 Lockinge

Stable Tour

"He's a lovely horse who won his first two races and earned a place in the 2,000 Guineas. His second start when bolting up in Listed company at Newcastle had plenty of people talking about him and I must be honest I thought he'd win but not in the manner he did. We decided he had to take his place in the 2,000 Guineas but he never got a chance to show his true colours. He got wiped out at the start, which caused him to lose his action, and from there on things never went right. Unfortunately he came back sore, having knocked a joint. It has been hard work getting him back but he's there now and ready to go again. I looked at Royal Ascot but he had a slightly dirty scope before and you must be 100 per cent for that meeting. He heads to Newmarket for the July meeting, where we'll aim for the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes over a mile and then we'll look to the Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. He'll run at Newmarket as long as they get nice ground and hopefully we can get him back to where he was before the Guineas. He'll have to carry a penalty there for his Listed win but it's a lesser race and hopefully it'll help him get his confidence back. We're all very excited about getting him out again. Further down the line we could look to step him up to 1m2f. 30-06-22"

Quotes

Spotlight

Tough and consistent sort who won the C&D Spring Cup on 2025 reappearance but couldn't get a clear run in it this time round; third in this race last year and 9lb higher today but he's an each-way contender.

Comment

Won C&D Spring Cup in 2025; couldn't get a clear run in it in 2026; 3rd in this last year

Quotes

Spotlight

Won three of his seven handicaps (1m-1m1f) last term, including the last two; just fourth of 13 to Spanish Voice when favourite at Newmarket on reappearance but that was respectable; player on peak 2025 effort.

Comment

Did well last term; fourth of 13 to Spanish Voice when favourite at Newmarket on return

Stable Tour

"I was glad he won a couple at the end as it was getting a little frustrating last year. He could go for the Suffolk Stakes and I'm hoping he'll end up in the Royal Hunt Cup, and maybe in the Cambridgeshire as well. He should be really competitive in those types of races and should pop up in one as he likes that style of racing. 27-04-26"

Spotlight

1-18 on turf but his only two appearances at this track saw him take third in the Spring Cup and this race in 2024; operating a bit below that level since last August, which, despite some AW success, has to put him down the pecking order in such a hot race.

Comment

Did well here spring 2024 but 1-18 on turf; down the pecking order despite some AW success

Stable Tour

"I had him in mind for the big mile handicap at Newcastle on Good Friday, which he won last year, but I scoped him and he wasn't quite right. He's a good horse on his day and is coming down to a mark where he should be winning again, so he'll be aimed at big handicaps like the Hunt Cup. 22-04-25"

Spotlight

Showed plenty of ability on all four starts (AW/good) as 3yo, winning a 1m novice, but he seems to have been hit hard by the handicapper following his fifth of seven last November in a 9.5f Listed race on Deauville AW.

Comment

Only four races; seems to have been hit hard for his fifth of seven in French Listed race

Quotes

Spotlight

Held up of late; competitive if judged on his peak Irish form for Joseph O'Brien, which was a 9.5f win last June in first-time blinkers; has played minor roles for new yard since, with some promise on occasions at Meydan (1m1f-1m4f) this year but others have more pressing claims.

Comment

Promise on occasions at Meydan (1m1f-1m4f) this year but others have more pressing claims

Stable Tour

"He contested a smart race at Cork last weekend and just got sucked into it a bit early but did well to finish third. He'll probably go up in distance for a winners' race at Roscommon. He won his maiden there last year so it looks a suitable spot for him. 24-04-25"

Quotes

Spotlight

Ended his 2025 campaign with a heavy-ground 7f double at Doncaster; better form this season when third of 22 to Mezcala in the Spring Mile at same track (good to soft) and close third at Chester (7.6f, good) ten days ago, but he's edging back up the weights.

Comment

7yo who's in his best form for ages but is edging back up the weights

Quotes

Medical History

Spotlight

His only turf wins came in a Royal Ascot handicap and Newbury Group 3, but they were in 2023 and he needs the cards to drop right for his late bids; scored on AW in January but subsequent form, including when 40-1 in the Victoria Cup last Saturday, isn't good enough.

Comment

No turf win since 2023; AW win in January but subsequent form isn't good enough

Stable Tour

"He ran very well at Newcastle this month, finishing on the bridle with nowhere to go. That's the way he has to be ridden, because he misses the kick, but he has so much ability that I'm sure he's going to win a big one this season, although picking the day when he'll hit the bullseye is very hard. I'd say one of those top handicaps at Royal Ascot would be his aim. 21-04-26"

Quotes

Spotlight

Group 3 winner in France as a 2yo in 2024; below best figures in AW handicap and Meydan Group 2 during the winter on his only two starts for David O'Meara; needs to prove he retains full ability and, unless the betting speaks favourably, best watched on this debut for another new yard.

Comment

Ex-French; needs to prove he retains full ability on this debut for another new yard

Medical History