EXISTENT should be backed to shock favourite Winter Power in the Group 2 Cazoo Temple Stakes (3.45) at Haydock Park.
A one-time winner for John and Thady Gosden, Existent has thrived since joining Stuart Williams, showing improvement to lift all-weather handicaps at Chelmsford City and Wolverhampton in the first two months of the year. The four-year-old son of Kingman met with defeat at Lingfield Park and Newmarket on his next two outings.
Existent roared back to form with another personal best when going under by a neck to Khaadem in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes – with Twilight Calls (fifth), Arecibo (seventh), Mondammej (eighth) and Came From The Dark (10th) in arrears – on the 2,000 Guineas undercard at Headquarters three weeks ago.
My selection was a 25-1 shot that day, but there was no fluke about the performance and Marco Ghiani’s mount can go one better for a first Group 2 win.
WHOPUTFIFTYINYOU gets the vote to defend his unbeaten record with a victory in the Cazoo Silver Bowl Handicap (2.35). Clive Cox's charge made the perfect start to his career with a win over six furlongs here in September, before following up over the same trip at Kempton Park the following month.
He made his return in a seven-furlong handicap at Newbury last month and proved ahead of his British Horseracing Authority handicap mark of 83 with a three-quarter-length call from Private Signal. The assessor has stepped in with a 5lb rise in the weights, but Whoputfiftyinyou, with the excellent David Probert is on board for the first time, has plenty more to offer as he tackles a mile for the first time.
Probert is ripe for an ITV4 double, initiated by VALLEY FORGE in the Cazoo Hell Nook Handicap (2.00). Andrew Balding saddled the gelded son of Danzili to capture the big money Melrose Handicap over a mile and three quarters last August. Valley Forge was keeping on over the same trip on his return. With that in mind, two miles here should be right up his street.
His ‘previous’ at this level points to the chance of GO BEARS GO in the Group 2 Cazoo Sandy Lane Stakes (3.10). Having gone under by a head to Perfect Power in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot last June, Kodi Bear’s son gave David Loughnane the biggest success of his career in the same-grade Railway Stakes at the Curragh nine days later.
Rossa Ryan’s mount hit the ground running on his return in Ascot’s Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial 24 days ago and looks a worthy favourite for this prize.
Top weight COLINTON hasn’t reached the bottom of the barrel and appeals in the opening Cazoo Florida Handicap (1.25).
The Curragh stages the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (3.20), where it will be a shock if NATIVE TRAIL fails to justify building-society odds. Although he suffered his first defeat when beaten by stablemate Coroebus in the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, the Charlie Appleby colt enjoys a class edge over his eight opponents.
At Goodwood, STORMY ANTARCTIC has the perfect conditions to repeat his triumph of 12 months ago in the Listed William Hill Festival Stakes (2.15). Now nine years old, Ed Walker’s popular veteran can still mix it with the youngsters, especially when there’s plenty of give underfoot.
Earlier on the Goodwood card, GISBURN is capable of giving his rivals weight and a beating as he makes his comeback in the William Hill Harroways Handicap (1.45).
There was enough in her debut for Kingsclere at Goodwood last month to make Valley Forge’s stablemate SILENCE PLEASE of interest in the Group 3 William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes (3.30).
The preceding William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (2.55) looks trappy, but ZARGUN can get involved if taking a step forward from a pleasing seasonal bow at York’s May fixture nine days ago.
