SNOW SETTLES SCORE
Course-proven Motakhayyel ready to overcome top weight and land back-to-back Bunbury Cup victories
SNOW LANTERN (right) powered home to settle an eight-year-old family score in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.
In 2013, Snow Lantern’s dam, Sky Lantern – who had captured the 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes for Richard Hannon and his father Richard snr – suffered a controversial defeat in the fillies’ Group 1.
Neck winner Elusive Kate had carried the runner-up across the July Course but, after a stewards’ inquiry on course — and an appeal at the British Horseracing Authority HQ in London — the result was allowed to stand.
“It is very special because there was a score to settle in terms of Sky Lantern a few years ago,” smiled Hannon after watching Snow Lantern and Sean
MOTAKHAYYEL (nap) can shrug aside top weight to win the bet365 Bunbury Cup (3.50) at Newmarket for the second year running.
A smart turn foot settled matters for Richard Hannon’s son of Heeraat 12 months ago as Motakhayyel, previously successful in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot, beat Sir Busker by threeparts of a length.
My selection is without a win in five attempts since, but three of those defeats were in Listed or
Group 3 company, and one – a down-the-field effort in Ascot’s Victoria
Cup – came on unsuitably soft ground.
Back in handicaps and over a course and distance that clearly plays to his strengths, Frankie Dettori’s (above) mount looks sure to give a good account of himself as he bids to defy a 4lb higher rating than in 2020.
Charlie Appleby’s team continues in top form through high summer, and ROYAL FLEET is expected to take his tally to three from three in the bet365 Mile Handicap (2.40).
Having made a victorious debut at Kempton last November, the Dubawi colt – mother Zibelina scored at Group 3 level for the same connections – Royal Fleet followed up under a penalty at Yarmouth in April.
William Buick’s partner starts life in handicaps from a BHA mark of 93 – and that may underestimate him.
Appleby has lifted three of the past five runnings of the Group 2 bet365 Superlative Stakes (3.15), and has another prime candidate in NATIVE
TRAIL.
Market hopes were high when Oasis Dream’s son took on nine rivals for a seven-furlong maiden at Sandown 29 days ago as Native Trail was sent off the 8-11 favourite.
He didn’t disappoint, showing inexperience entering the final quarter-mile before powering away for a four-length supremacy over Royal Patronage, and there is plenty more where that came from.
The Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa Fillies’ Handicap (2.05) attracts a dozen three-year-olds, of whom RIKNNAH, attempting a four-timer after going in at Wolverhampton,
Lingfield and over course and distance, is the pick.
At York, his flawless course record – and the booking of rising star Laura Pearson – point to the chance of LUCANDER in the John Smith’s Cup (4.05).
A first visit yielded a short-head margin in a big-money nursery in October 2019, and the Ralph Beckett trainee returned to the Knavesmire to capture a courseand-distance handicap at the Ebor Festival last August.
Lucander didn’t shine in the Royal Hunt Cup on his latest start, but a better run is expected here.
The talented but fragile FUJAIRA PRINCE has an exemplary record fresh, so an absence from the racecourse of 266 days is arguably a positive as he takes on 10 opponents for the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup (2.20).
In the John Smith’s Racing Handicap (1.45), EAGLEWAY is taken to make it third-time lucky since his move to Britain after near-misses at Ascot and Newcastle.
She sat too close to a searing pace for Royal Ascot’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes, but WINTER POWER should put matters right in the Listed John Smith’s City Walls Stakes (4.40).