Crystal is offering high Hope

CRYSTAL Hope cannot be ignored in the British Stallion Studs EBF Upavon Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury tomorrow.

Sir Michael Stoute’s three-year-old has been off the track since May, but she is the most interesting horse in this nine-runner field.

The daughter of Nathaniel looked a potential top-notcher at Sandown in April when she surged three lengths clear in a hot novice fillies’ stakes that featured Musidora winner Give And Take.

But it was her run over a mile and a quarter at Newbury on May 19 which deserves even closer scrutiny.

Crystal Hope was perhaps unhinged by a soporific early gallop in a Listed race that was competed on rattling-fast ground, but she still finished third as the 2-1 favourite.

On the face of it, Stoute might have been a touch disappointed by that run, though subsequent events would suggest that was actually a pretty good effort.

The winner that day, Sea Of Class, is now a Classic heroine, while r unner-up Athena claimed the Grade One Belmont Oaks in July.

Stoute’s inmate, a half-sister to Crystal Ocean, gets weight from all but two rivals in the Upavon Fillies’ Stakes, in a race in which three-yearolds have a fine record.

And with Ryan Moore in the saddle, there is an awful lot to like about her chances of winning this before stepping up in class.

Crantock Bay should not be too far away in the British EBF Molson Coors Novice Stakes.

George Scott’s young colt caught the eye on his debut at Ascot in July when he flashed home for second place behind Production, beaten a neck.

That was a perfectly decent effort from the two-year-old son of Havana Gold, who was going nowhere quickly until the penny finally dropped at the death.

Tin Hat is the obvious danger in this six-furlong test, but Crantock Bay is in receipt from 3lb from that one and he could have a bit of a future.

Keep an eye, too, on Signore Piccolo, who runs in the five-furlong SH Jones Wines Handicap.

David Loughnane’s seven-year-old has only gone up 1lb for a good performance at

Beverley last time and looks handicapped to win a humble race of this nature.

Frankel colt Hamlul jumps off the race card ahead of his handicap debut at Beverley.

This 200,000 euro purchase has not yet set the racing world alight, but he has been found a very winnable opportunity on the Westwood.

The three-year-old grey has shown spits and spots of form in three starts, with his second-placed finish at Kempton in June the highlight.

He was then stepped up to a mile and a half for a novice stakes at Newcastle last month.

Hamlul absolutely cruised into contention under Jamie Spencer, but did not find much towards the business end and wilted into fifth place