Loughnane stars as Doddie’s Impact bags Brocklesby

/by

Billy Loughnane has carried all before him on the all-weather circuit this winter and showed he is just as effective on turf by winning the first race of the new season on Doddie’s Impact at Doncaster.

The Pertemps Network EBF Brocklesby Stakes is the traditional curtain-raiser on Town Moor and attracted a field of 16 unraced juveniles, with €250,000 purchase Valadero the 3-1 market leader for last year’s winning owners Amo Racing.

Favourite backers looked sure to collect when Kevin Stott grabbed the initiative with two furlongs to run, but he understandably showed signs of greenness close home, allowing Doddie’s Impact a chance.

Trained by Robyn Brisland, the son of Pearl Secret is named in honour of the late Scottish Rugby Union legend Doddie Weir, with a percentage of prize money won going to MND charities, the disease which cruelly cut short Weir’s life.

Showing the tenacity his namesake was famous for, Doddie’s Impact (10-1) stuck to his task gamely to win by a neck.

Loughnane said: “It’s class. Mr Brisland had him in good shape. I’d been in during the week to have a sit on him and I thought he’d go close.

“I think he had a tough opponent today, but he knuckled down well and he wanted to win.

“I was riding without my claim in that race so it was brave of Mr Brisland to put me up.”

Doddie’s Impact (left) gets up to win the Brocklesby at Doncaster
Doddie’s Impact (left) gets up to win the Brocklesby at Doncaster (Nigel French/PA)

Mike Hocking, of Cross Channel Racing who part-own the winner, said: “We’re trying to raise money for the charity and what a story.

“It’s all about raising money and awareness for MND to try and find a cure.

“We are donating 50 per cent of the prize money to the charity and we have nine other yearlings so anyone can get involved. I can’t tell you if this is the best one though!”

Brisland, meanwhile, has loftier in targets in mind for Doddie’s Impact, saying: “It’s an amazing story and fingers crossed they can have a lot of luck.

“We can starting dusting off our top hats and go to Royal Ascot now.”

Al Mubhir heads Haggas quest for fifth Lincoln success

/by

William Haggas goes in search of a record fifth Pertemps Network Lincoln on Saturday with Al Mubhir lining up at Doncaster for the Somerville Lodge handler.

Haggas is locked with Jack Robinson on four victories apiece in the season-opening handicap, but appears to have an outstanding chance of becoming the outright leading trainer in the one-mile event with the likely favourite, who will be the mount of Andrea Atzeni.

An easy winner in heavy ground at Haydock at the back-end of last season, the four-year-old has undergone wind surgery ahead of his reappearance, with Haggas expecting conditions to be in his favour.

He said: “Al Mubhir did well last year. He is a nice horse who won on heavy ground at Haydock and the ground looks like it is coming right for him. He’s pretty fit and all being well, he should run a nice race.

“I thought he was going to be a good horse. He won his maiden very nicely at Newmarket as a two-year-old and then I thought he was going to be a nice three-year-old.

“Then he was very disappointing. He was pretty unruly as well and lost his way a bit.

“But he finished the season well. I don’t know how good he is, but he’s always been a nice horse and I think he’s in good shape.”

Haggas will also be represented in the race by Montassib, who was last seen finishing second to Wanees at Haydock in September.

The winner went up 3lb for that success and now races off a mark of 96, but trainer Charlie Hills is hopeful there is still improvement to come from the costly son of Le Havre.

“We’ve had this race in mind since his last run last year,” explained Hills.

“We are happy with him and he has form in soft ground which is great and I just feel that a nice, strongly-run mile, will suit him well.

“He’s a lightly-raced horse and still unexposed to what we think he could be, so hopefully he will run a decent race.”

Baradar made the perfect start to life with George Boughey when scoring over seven furlongs at Town Moor on debut for the Saffron House handler in November.

All three of the five-year-old’s victories have come with cut in the ground and connections are hoping he will relish testing conditions once more, stepping up to a mile.

Baradar ridden by David Egan (left) wins the BetGoodwin Our Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Stakes at Doncaster in November
Baradar ridden by David Egan (left) wins the BetGoodwin Our Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Stakes at Doncaster in November (Nigel French/PA)

“There’s obviously some nice horses in there lurking off good marks, but this has been the plan for our horse all along,” said Tom Pennington of Amo Racing.

“His three wins have come on soft and heavy ground, so the more rain the better for him.

“He’s in good form and has got good course form, finishing third in the Vertem Futurity as a two-year-old and won there at the backend of last year very impressively for George.

“He’s got the same draw as the winner came from last year (stall four), he’ll be ridden patiently and the ground will suit him.”

Another with both track and soft ground form to his name is Charlie Fellowes’ Atrium who was last seen striking over course and distance and now returns to South Yorkshire in search of a three-timer.

“He is in good order and has had a pretty clear run throughout the winter,” said Fellowes.

“This has been the plan since he got balloted out of the Balmoral and I’m pretty happy with him.

“It is in no doubt he is better with a bit of dig in the ground, but to win a Lincoln off 100 you have to be pretty much a Group horse and even though he was progressive last year, there’s no doubt he needs to take another step forward to be in that bracket.

“We hope he has taken that step forward and I’ve been delighted with his work. He’s never been a great work horse, but actually his work recently has been pretty good. It won’t take much for him to improve again.”

Second behind Atrium here in September was the thoroughly-consistent Empirestateofmind, who is one of two in the race for John Quinn and owner Ross Harmon along with stable stalwart Safe Voyage.

Quinn said: “Safe Voyage seems very well. He’s a 10-year-old now, but his last run was a very good run at Ascot in the big handicap and he still retains plenty of ability.

Safe Voyage ridden by Jason Hart (centre) wins the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes at York
Safe Voyage ridden by Jason Hart (centre) wins the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes at York (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“Whether he can win a Lincoln at this stage I don’t know, but he’s fit and well and he’ll love the ground.

“Empirestateofmind is in good fettle as well. He had a good year last year and was touched off on his last run of the season at York.

“The handicapper put him up another 4lb for that and he’s gone up 7lb for finishing second three times in his last three runs. With that in mind I thought it would help to claim off him and your man (Taylor Fisher) is good value for his (5lb) claim I think.

“The horse is in good form, he’s fit and will like the ground.”

Valadero aiming to emulate Persian Force in Brocklesby test

/by

Valadero has some big boots to fill as he bids to provide prominent owners Amo Racing with back-to-back victories in the Pertemps Network EBF Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday.

The five-furlong contest for unraced two-year-olds is the traditional curtain-raiser to the British turf Flat season and was won in brilliant style 12 months ago by Persian Force.

The Richard Hannon-trained colt went on to carry the purple and white silks of Kia Joorabchian’s group to big-race success in the Group Two July Stakes before being placed in three successive Group Ones and finishing fourth at the Breeders’ Cup, after which he was retired for stud duties.

Having made three entries earlier in the week, Amo Racing’s representative in this year’s Brocklesby is Starspangledbanner colt Valadero, who cost the team €250,000 as a yearling and is now under the tutelage of Lambourn-based trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis.

While he has plenty to live up to, connections are hopeful of a bold showing on Town Moor.

Amo’s racing and operations manager, Tom Pennington, said: “Persian Force was obviously an incredibly special horse who was verging on Group One standard.

“Valadero is a very nice colt who has been very straightforward to deal with and his work’s been good.

“We sat down as a team this week, we had the three entries and there’s a long season ahead.

“This horse will go there in A1 condition. I wouldn’t say we’re confident, but he does go there in very good shape.”

Persian Force is not the only high-class recent winner of the Brocklesby, with 2021 scorer Chipotle going on to score at Royal Ascot and 2016 victor The Last Lion striking Group One gold in the Middle Park Stakes before the end of his juvenile campaign.

Pennington added: “There’s 17 other runners on Saturday, all unraced and everyone thinks they’ve got a good one. It’s difficult in this sort of ground as well – which horse will handle it best?

“Winners of the Brocklesby used to be first half of the season wonders, but now they tend to go all the way through.”

John Quinn likes what he has seen at home from Ribchester colt Sankari, but fears he is not well placed in stall one.

Trainer John Quinn at Doncaster
Trainer John Quinn at Doncaster (Mike Egerton/PA)

He said: “He’s a nice sort of horse. I don’t know about the ground, but we’ll find out.

“I’m not mad about the draw, but there we are. He’s fit and he’s well and we’ll see how we go.”

Tom Dascombe has enjoyed his fair share of juvenile success over the years and is looking forward to saddling Old Chums – a son of Kodiac out of Listed-winning mare Magical Dreamer.

“He’s owned by a wonderful group of friends and I sincerely hope that he’s pretty useful,” said the Lambourn-based trainer.

Tom Dascombe has high hopes for Old Chums
Tom Dascombe has high hopes for Old Chums (Julian Herbert/PA)

“He has a fantastic attitude, he’s going to give me his best, I’m pretty sure he’ll handle the ground and I’m really looking forward to watching him run.

“His dam handled soft ground, Kodiacs generally handle soft ground and he’s pretty quick – it’s as simple as that.

“I’m sure there’ll be half a dozen better than him, but we’ve got to start somewhere.”

Magna Grecia colt Loaded Gun is prominent in the market for Andrew Balding, while Karl Burke’s Indication Call and Bellarchi from Grant Tuer’s yard both carry the colours of Nick Bradley Racing.

Doddie’s Impact (Robyn Brisland) and Go To Work (David Evans) also feature in what promises to be an informative affair.

Angel Bleu hunting further French glory

/by

Angel Bleu returns to Saint-Cloud attempting to maintain his unbeaten record on the continent in the Prix Edmond Blanc on Saturday.

Ralph Beckett’s son of Dark Angel struck twice on French soil as a two-year-old, firstly landing the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere before doubling his Group One haul in the Criterium International 20 days later.

Despite failing to find the scoresheet during his three-year-old season, he continued to hold his own in esteemed company, finishing third in the Greenham and also not disgraced behind Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Following an encouraging return at Wolverhampton, Angel Bleu will now be partnered by Ryan Moore as he returns to the French capital for Group Three duty – tasked with taking on Francis-Henri Graffard’s dual race winner and six-time course scorer, The Revenant.

“We were very pleased with his run at Wolverhampton,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for Angel Bleu’s owner Marc Chan.

“The draw wasn’t the best, but everyone was delighted with his performance and we’re just building up from there. The horse seems to thrive on racing and likes the course, so we may as well run and keep going.

“When you look back at his run in the Sussex Stakes, on ground he didn’t like, and where he came out of the race with an injury – Baaeed was probably at his peak at that point and it wasn’t really a bad effort. Other than the two times at Royal Ascot, the horse has never run a bad race.

“The Revenant has won this race twice and on that ground, at that distance, it will be no egg and spoon race.

“It’s not an easy race, but it’s kind of an obvious spot and Ryan Moore right now is kind of walking on water – he’s in a zone he has never been in before.”

Moore is also in action on the card in the Group Three Prix Penelope where he has the chance to continue his global purple patch aboard Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot filly, Be Happy.

Jockey Ryan Moore has two rides in Group Three contests at Saint-Cloud on Saturday
Jockey Ryan Moore has two rides in Group Three contests at Saint-Cloud on Saturday (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Be Happy will enjoy the expected soft ground and she is a filly we like,” the jockey told Betfair.

“She won well on her debut in testing ground at Cork and she probably didn’t get the run of the race when stepped up in class at the Curragh next time. This longer trip will suit the Camelot filly.

“We also have Fillies’ Mile fifth Library in here and she certainly has her chance – it’s a very good race for the grade, with Pensee Du Jour an obvious threat to all after her runaway win here last time.”

Andrew Thornton pays tribute to trainer John Spearing

/by

Andrew Thornton has paid tribute to trainer John Spearing, who has died at the age of 82.

Thornton was the regular rider of Simon, who won the Sky Bet Chase and Racing Post Chase in 2007 for Spearing in the famous colours of Mercy Rimell.

Spearing will also be remembered for training Run And Skip, the 1985 Welsh Grand National winner who famously jumped the second last in the 1986 Cheltenham Gold Cup upsides Dawn Run before fading to finish fourth behind the mare in one of the most famous races in turf history.

Spearing, who also trained good Flat winners like Rapid Lad, Croeso Croeso and Pintle, suffered life-threatening injuries in a serious accident five years ago.

He trained at Kinnersley, made famous by Fred Rimell and the link continued through his wife, Mercy, having horses trained by Spearing.

Simon on his way to victory in the Racing Post Chase for John Spearing and Andrew Thornton
Simon on his way to victory in the Racing Post Chase for John Spearing and Andrew Thornton (Andrew Parsons/PA)

“I last saw John at Worcester in the summer and we had a lovely catch up,” said Thornton.

“I’d speak to John every now and again on the phone and we always got on great.

“He was riding out well into his 70s which sums him up. What a trainer, five furlongs or three and a half miles – it made no difference.”

Spearing and Thornton struck up a fruitful partnership when they teamed up, with Simon a highlight.

“I got on Simon for the first time at Bangor (in April, 2006) and I think it was Scottish National weekend. I’d known Mercy since the 1990s and always got on really well with her,” said Thornton.

Andrew Thornton with owner Mercy Rimell
Andrew Thornton with owner Mercy Rimell (Andrew Parsons/PA)

“I started riding a few for John, I’d popped in one morning and it was just a case of right place, right time I suppose.

“He was my kind of horse wasn’t he, because he wasn’t very big! He loved soft ground and he had the odd mistake in him here and there but we clicked.

“Bad horses don’t win Racing Post Chases and Sky Bet Chases. I actually won the Sky Bet twice, yet I never won a race over fences at Doncaster, they were both at Southwell.

“It was a real shame Simon fell when he did when I rode him in the National 2007 as he was still going well and the year after he was nearly favourite, but I broke my collar bone on another horse of John’s, Soulard, so couldn’t ride him.

“John was a very good dual-purpose trainer. He provided me with my 998th winner when Barton Gift won at Bangor, a couple of days later I managed to get my 1,000th and without a doubt I wouldn’t have got there without John.

“There was one season I had about 20 rides for him and I had eight winners. He was a very good trainer and I’ll miss him.”

Burke optimistic as El Caballo makes Cammidge return

/by

Karl Burke is excited to see El Caballo make his first competitive appearance since Royal Ascot last summer in the Pertemps Network Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday.

Narrowly beaten on his Town Moor debut two years ago, the Havana Gold colt went on to win his next six races, including his first four last season.

A Listed success in Lingfield’s Spring Cup was followed by a lucrative victory on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle, while a successful switch to the turf in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock ensured he a major contender for the Group One Commonwealth Cup.

El Caballo was well beaten on fast ground at the Royal meeting and missed the rest of the campaign, but he is reported to be in rude health ahead of his return in this weekend’s six-furlong Listed event.

“He’s wintered really well and has been working nicely. We’re hoping for a big run,” said Burke.

“He just got jarred at Ascot, so we had to back off him after his run in the Commonwealth. We’ve given him plenty of time to recover and hopefully he can make up for lost ground this spring.

“It’s going to be pretty heavy and pretty testing. I’m not saying he wants that, but I’d rather there was a bit of juice in the ground than not.

“He will improve for the run, but we’ve been very happy with the way he’s working.”

Burke has an interesting second string to his bow in the form of Fast Response, who rounded off 2022 with victory in the Wentworth Stakes over the course and distance in heavy ground.

Fast Response winning at Doncaster
Fast Response winning at Doncaster (Nigel French/PA)

The Fast Company filly will again have conditions to suit, but her trainer believes she may not be at concert pitch at this early stage of the season.

“She loves the heavy ground and obviously won a Listed race at the backend of last season,” the Spigot Lodge handler added.

“She was very progressive at the end of the year and heavy ground is the key to her, but her form improved as the season went on last year.

“I’m not sure she’s a spring filly and like a lot of fillies at this time of year, she looks like she wants a little bit of sunshine, but we’ll let her take her chance.”

The Charlie Fellowes-trained Vadream returns to turf action after three successive runs on the all-weather this year.

Vadream (left) in winning action at Ascot
Vadream (left) in winning action at Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“She’s a soft ground performer. I’m not convinced she’s really suited to those all-weather races round a bend, but we wanted to get her qualified for Good Friday and that is not out of the question – she could easily run at Doncaster then at Newcastle as well,” said the Newmarket handler.

“She’s got her conditions on Saturday and I thought she was quite overpriced considering a straight six on soft ground is what she loves.

“If she can produce the runs from the back end of last year, especially on Champions Day, I think she will go pretty close.”

Michael Dods saddles dual Stewards’ Cup winner Commanche Falls, and said: “He normally doesn’t race as early in the season, so while he’s well I wouldn’t say he’s come to himself yet.

“But there’s limited opportunities off his present rating and he seems well enough to have a run, so we’ll let him take his chance.”

James Horton is represented by Asjad, who was touched off by a stablemate of Commanche Falls in Dakota Gold on his latest appearance at Doncaster in October.

“He’s earned his place and his right to go and compete in those races. He’s rated 107, so he has to go and run in those races really,” Horton told Sky Sports Racing.

“We know he likes Doncaster, we know he likes soft ground and we know he likes running fresh.

“He seems fresh and well. He still possibly looks a little bit wintry in his coat, but he’s a five-year-old gelding living in North Yorkshire, so he’s probably not stupid!

“He’s coming nicely into this race and whatever he does on Saturday should bring him forward.”

Andrew Balding’s King’s Lynn, who carries the colours of the King and the Queen Consort, also features in a 12-strong field.

Whittington to leave training ranks at the end of the season

/by

Grade One-winning handler Harry Whittington will relinquish his training licence at the end of the season.

Whittington has held a licence for over 10 years at his Hill Barn Stables base overlooking Lambourn and enjoyed notable big-race success with the likes of Arzal, Saint Calvados, Simply The Betts and Rouge Vif.

Arzal provided him with top-level success when landing Aintree’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase in 2016, while his only Cheltenham Festival victory came curtesy of Simply The Betts – who obliged favourite backers in the 2020 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase.

That 2019-20 season was also Whittington’s best numerically, amassing 30 winners and £455,667 in prize-money, but since then he has struggled to hit the same heights, saddling 19 and 10 winners respectively in the subsequent two campaigns and sitting on 10 for the current term.

Having combined his training commitments by undertaking pre-training services this term, Whittington has now taken the decision to focus solely on the latter aspect of his business.

“After many successful years as a licensed yard, we have decided to transition our operation at the end of the season to a yard which is focussed on pre-training services such as breaking-in, turnout, rehabilitation and sales consignment,” read a statement on the handler’s Twitter profile.

“An opportunity came up last summer to reintroduce some horses into pre-training, a discipline which we originally set out to do before taking out a trainer’s licence in 2012.

Trainer Harry Whittington celebrates after Simply The Betts wins the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
Trainer Harry Whittington celebrates after Simply The Betts wins the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

“Within a short space of time we have brought in several new clients and demand has been such that we soon realised we needed to make a choice between the two rather than continue to operate the yard on a hybrid model.

“The decision was not taken lightly as we have such fantastic support from loyal owners. However, ultimately, we have made the choice because it is the best use of our collective skills as horsemen. It’s a business model which works, and we are well positioned with fantastic facilities which are ideally suited to this alternative venture.

“We would like to thank you all for your continued support and look forward to moving into this new chapter.”

Amo Racing team looking to Mojo to be staying Star

/by

Mojo Star is reported to be in rude health as connections begin to plot a route back to the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

Richard Hannon’s charge might have won only one of his eight starts to date, but proved himself a top-notch three-year-old by finishing second in both the Derby and the St Leger two seasons ago and split Kyprios and Stradivarius when filling the runner-up spot in the Gold Cup last summer.

That proved to be Mojo Star’s first and last start of 2022, but he is back in full work ahead of the new campaign and could be back on a racecourse within a matter of weeks.

Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for owners Amo Racing, said: “I saw Mojo Star last week and he looks fantastic. He’s working away and, touch wood, he’s sound and in great form.

“He’s moving well and Richard couldn’t be happier with him at the moment, so hopefully it’s going to be an exciting season for him.”

With Aidan O’Brien recently revealing Kyprios is a major doubt to defend his Gold Cup crown following a setback and Stradivarius retired, the staying division appears wide open.

Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup
Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

Pennington added: “You hate to see horses like Kyprios falling away as while it obviously makes it easier for us, you want to beat those horses on merit.

“We monitor Mojo Star on a daily basis, but at the moment he’s going fantastic, he looks a picture and hasn’t missed a day.

“We have made a few plans, but the dream would be to go to Ascot and have another go at the Gold Cup.

“There’s lots of options (for a run before then), including the Further Flight at Nottingham in a couple of weeks over a mile and six (furlongs) in soft ground. You’ve got to remember he’s only a maiden winner, so he wouldn’t carry a penalty in a race like that.”

Bumper double takes Mullins over 200 Irish winners for the season

/by

Willie Mullins enjoyed a landmark afternoon as he registered an across-the-card bumper double at Limerick and Naas, bringing up his 200th winner of the season in Ireland in the process.

The horse to give the champion trainer the double century was Junta Marvel (85-40), who made a successful debut in the Storms The Stars @ Coolagown Stud Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race at Limerick.

JP McManus-owned point-to-point victor Bioluminescence was the 5-4 favourite, but Junta Marvel saw her off by two and half lengths in the hands of Patrick Mullins.

“It was a good performance,” said the record-breaking amateur.

“She was a little keen early on but we got to pick a nice strip of ground. Being by Masked Marvel, she loved the ground and while we hoped to have her ready for a Listed bumper, she could still make the Grade Three mares’ bumper at Punchestown next month.

“That’s 200 wins for the yard this season, our best was 212 so hopefully we can beat that.

“We’ve had a brilliant season and it’s not over yet with Fairyhouse, Aintree and Punchestown ahead.”

It did not take long for the Mullins camp to make it 201, with Mirazur West justifying market confidence in the Nursery Of Champions INH Flat Race at Naas.

The Westerner gelding looked set to win a point-to-point at Dromahane in November when falling at the final fence under Derek O’Connor, who was again on board for his debut under rules.

Carrying the McManus silks, Mirazur West was all the rage as the 1-2 favourite, despite facing a point-to-point winner and £360,000 purchase in Henry de Bromhead’s Mahon’s Way, and made every yard of the running on his way to a two-and-a-half-length success.

He’s My Hero, who set his connections back £120,000 after finishing second in the point-to-point sphere, narrowly beat Mahon’s Way to the runner-up spot.

Fahey eyeing Musidora starting point for Midnight Mile

/by

Richard Fahey is targeting the Musidora Stakes at York’s Dante meeting in May as a starting point for his exciting filly Midnight Mile.

A debut winner at Doncaster last July, she was not seen again until winning the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket in October.

That set her up for a trip to the Breeders’ Cup and an appearance in the Juvenile Fillies Turf but she lost all chance of winning with a tardy start.

It was to her immense credit that she came from last to finish fourth of 14 behind Meditate and Fahey is happy to skip the Guineas in favour of middle distances this summer. Given she is closely rated to both Yesterday and Quarter Moon, both second in the Oaks, she looks bred to stay in excess of a mile.

“I’m very pleased with her at the moment, she’s wintered very well and she’s going nicely,” said Fahey.

“I was a little bit frustrated at the Breeders’ Cup that she didn’t bounce and run and get the place we wanted her to be in, but that’s racing. It was only the third run of her life and she’s bred to be a better three-year-old. I was pleased we learned a bit more about her.

“I’m going to skip the Guineas and all that. I’m going to step her up to a mile and a quarter and start her off in something like the Musidora. I think I’d take her straight there, I just haven’t rushed her this year and let her mature, which she has done, and we’ll have a second-half of the season campaign.”

Barefoot Angel will run in a Guineas trial
Barefoot Angel will run in a Guineas trial (Jeff Holmes/PA)

Another three-year-old filly in the yard who will head for a Guineas trial is Barefoot Angel, winner of the Group Three Firth of Clyde Stakes and an unlucky fourth in Redcar’s Two Year Old Trophy under a penalty.

“She was another who didn’t bounce and race that day at Redcar, but we’ll run her in a Guineas trial and see what happens,” said Fahey.

“She’s in both Guineas and we’ll play it by ear after her trial to see what we want to do. It will be Newmarket or Newbury for a trial.”

Fahey was on the mark at Royal Ascot last season with The Ridler, a 50-1 winner of the Norfolk Stakes but he disappointed on his only other run in France after that.

“The Ridler is good and he’ll start off in the Greenham and see where we go after that,” said Fahey.

“He just didn’t come back as I’d have liked after France but he’s done extremely well over the winter, so we’re still undecided whether he’s a sprinter or whether we can stretch him out.

“We lost our two Group One winners from last year (The Platinum Queen was sold and sent to Roger Varian and Perfect Power retired), so we have to find another one.

“We have a good batch of two-year-olds. so hopefully one of them can step up.”