Creative Force (evens favourite) was back in the winner's enclosure after victory in the Pertemps Network Conditions Stakes at Haydock Park.
The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old is a former Royal Ascot winner and also won the Group One Champions Sprint Stakes back at the Berkshire track in October 2021. But he had not won since. Although, he had run some good races in defeat at the top level including when second in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at last year’s Royal meeting. But dropped back down to a conditions event, he landed a morale-boosting victory under James Doyle. Doyle had Creative Force out quick and he led from start to finish in the six-furlong contest, eventually scoring by three lengths from Tiber Flow.
Now a return to the top level is likely next probably in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, for which he is a best-priced 7-1 with William Hill and BetVictor and as low as 9-2 favourite with some firms. Doyle expects him to be a factor back in Group One company, particularly if the going is on the soft side. He said: "I am really pleased with him. He is a bonny horse. He has been a real flagbearer for us over the years. He usually comes to the fore when you need him. Hopefully this is just a bit of a stepping stone to better things. Obviously he does enjoy getting his toe in, but he is still effective on quicker ground. So he should be in for a good campaign. He certainly hasn't lost his enthusiasm over the years.
"I was kind of looking at it. I thought it would be a bit tactical, no certain leaders in the race. But he is s pretty chilled-out character, so I didn't think we would be going that quick. So I said to (trainer) Charlie (Appleby) perhaps we just let him pop and prick his ears in front and do what we want. With this ground drying all the time and six furlongs - it is probably his minimum kind of trip nowadays. He got done for a bit of speed at Newmarket, they went really slow and dashed into the dip and he kind of got into a bit of a tangle and didn't get out the other side. So (today) I was keen from the three to the two to really balance up and go for home. He should go to Ascot, he has done plenty of winning there. He did me a big favour winning the Jersey (Stakes) a few years ago. Obviously when the rain does come for him it is a big plus. So we will have to see. On quick ground he still runs his race."
James McHenry (9-4 favourite) won well in the Pertemps Network Handicap and could now head to Royal Ascot next month for the Britannia Stakes.
Under Callum Rodriguez, the Ed Bethell-trained three-year-old, who had won at Ripon last month, was held up towards rear off the pace set by Conservationist (10-1). James McHenry moved through the field in the mile contest and made his challenge over two furlong out. He came through to challenge Conservationist in the final furlong and stayed on well to get the better of that rival by half-a-length with Phoenix Fire (20-1) a further three-and-a-quarter-lengths back in third.
Middleham-based trainer Bethell has never had a runner at Royal Ascot, but James McHenry could spearhead a strong team next month. Bethell said: "He likes being fresh. Back in the spring I worked him a few times, then I gave him a week off galloping and he sprung to life off being fresh. For all he's a bit of a handful he is a good horse. The Britannia (could be a target). He is not that ground dependent and the Britannia was in my mind at the start of the year. Callum (Rodriguez) did mention possibly going up to a mile and a quarter as he was doing his best work at the end. A stiff mile might be the next alternative and then on from there further into the summer. He wouldn't want it that far and he wouldn't want that firm, so good, nice ground would be fine for him.
"I haven't had a runner at Ascot and I have got quite a few going this time. Maybe about seven or eight possibles down there. We have a lovely string of three-year-olds. I might be sending out a two-year-old that would be alright. But we will have few at Ascot."
Angel Bleu (3-1) just got the better of Holguin (7-2) to win the Listed Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes. Under Hector Crouch, the Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old took the seven-furlong Listed event by a neck and had to survive a stewards' enquiry after a slight coming together between the two principals before being confirmed the winner. Angel Bleu was a winner of a Group Two at Glorious Goodwood and also Group Ones in France – the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardare at Paris-Longchamp and the Prix Criterium International at Saint-Cloud as a juvenile. And connections expect to step him back up to the top level again, probably at Royal Ascot next month.
Winning jockey Crouch said: "He was very tough. That was probably a furlong shorter than his best today. He has won Group Ones at a mile and it is good to get him back. He has had a tough couple of years since his busy and successful juvenile career and this is just a step back to where we know he can be. He is a funny horse and he can take a bit of winding up sometimes and he needed that today, but it is was nice to get him back in front."
Karl Burke's Liamaty Dreams (11-1) won the Pertemps Handicap, beating Metabolt (10-3 favourite) by a neck.
