By Tom Frary
Suspense is the order of the day on Saturday, with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) making her seasonal bow at Kempton and Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) reappearing after his Royal Ascot nightmare in Haydock's feature. Suffering from all the old anxieties connections believed he had long left in the past in the June 22 G1 Diamond Jubilee S., Harry Angel was taking his Ascot tally to 0-5 but it is to be taken on trust that he remains deadly elsewhere. In his victories in the 2017 G1 July Cup on good-to-firm ground and particularly in this race on heavy ground 12 months ago, Godolphin's leading sprinter earned a formidable reputation which he did little to undermine on his sole meaningful start this term when taking the May 16 G2 Duke of York S. In the latter contest over this trip, he gave five pounds and a comprehensive beating to Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Sir Dancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) and subsequent events have cast that form in a highy favourable light. Trainer Clive Cox is very positive, but just hoping that the start is uneventful.
“My team at home have worked really hard with him and I couldn't be more happy, he's always been a bit fractious but like a lot of sprinters, he just wants to get on with the job,” he said. “I'm really pleased to say he's pleased me very much at home, over the last two or three weeks especially, and fingers crossed we can repeat last year, which was pretty special. He wasn't just in tune to go to the July Cup which was a huge shame, but Haydock was logical after that. The ground hopefully isn't an issue, I'm quite relaxed in that respect.”
Since his defeat in the Duke of York, Sir Dancealot has won four of his six starts and been fourth in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket July 14. Racking up a trio of wins in three of the most important seven-furlong races of the year in Newmarket's G3 Criterion S. June 30, Goodwood's G2 Lennox S. July 31 and Newbury's G2 Hungerford S. Aug. 18, he carries the belief of Gerald Mosse. “I really believe he's a group one horse. I think if the ground is on the soft side that will suit him,” his rider commented. “That would be better than if it is too quick coming back from seven furlongs to six. I think he might just struggle to find his stride if it was too quick, but I would prefer it softer and I think he would as well.”
The Gredleys' James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) is a live contender if Harry Angel fails to fire, having thrived in first-time blinkers when second to Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over 6 1/2 furlongs at Deauville Aug. 5. He holds the third-placed The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) on that form and trainer George Scott is hoping the headgear can work a second time.
“He came right back to form and some more last time,” he said. “I think he just reset for sprinting and he'd had a break since Ascot. We put some headgear on him and a combination of those things saw him in his best light. It looks a mixed forecast and it will probably be on the soft side of good. It shouldn't bother him, he's shown good form with cut in the ground, the Acomb was almost a washout when he nearly won that and the Greenham was on soft ground as well. I think his preferred surface would be slightly faster, but I don't think we'll be using it as an excuse.”
Mouth Watering Clash at Kempton…
At Kempton, the G3 188Bet September S. takes on a greater significance than usual with Enable under the microscope taking on one of the season's hard-knocking stellar performers in Sir Evelyn De Rothschild's 'TDN Rising Star' Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Enable will be forgiven defeat as she steps closer to a defence of her title in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but a win over the G2 Hardwicke S. winner and G1 King George runner-up would register as a seriously impressive return. “She was due to run in early June, but we've taken our time and she seems in good form,” trainer John Gosden said. “I'm sure she'll come on for her race. It will be nice to get her back on the racecourse again and I think she's looking forward to it as well. She has been as frustrated as the rest of us. She's coming back from injury, but hopefully that is behind us. We're not going there to give her a hard race. I think it's important people are aware of that.” Lord Grimthorpe added, “What we're looking for her to do is run really well. If she wins then so much the better, definitely. I think if she runs a big race and maybe gets a little tired or whatever, and comes out of it in good shape, then we can go to Paris with plenty of hope and confidence.”
While the majority of the focus from Sir Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge stable will be on Crystal Ocean, they are also represented by a potentially smart type in Cheveley Park Stud's Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}) in the G3 Unibet Mile at Haydock. The way the homebred went through his task in the G3 Thoroughbred S. at Goodwood Aug. 3 had the look of his recently-deceased damsire Medicean (GB) about it and he is a potential springer as the big autumn mile showdowns loom. Later on the Haydock card, Michael Pescod's 'TDN Rising Star' Floating Artist (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is pitted against some proven group performers in the Listed 32Red Casino Ascendant S. Impressive on his winning debut over a mile at Goodwood Aug. 24, the bay encounters the Listed Criterium du FEE third Great Scot (GB) (Requinto {Ire}) who hails from the Tom Dascombe stable which has some smart juveniles this term.
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