Kings can rule at Newbury

Stoute has five-year-old gelding back on track

KINGS FETE can cap his Lazarus-like return by lifting Group Three honours in the Worthington’s OCSL Stakes at Newbury.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute has done a frankly exceptional job with this five-year-old gelding, who suffered an injury in the 2014 St Leger and seemed unlikely to run again.

But the Newmarket handler got him back on track earlier this year and he now, arguably, looks better than ever.

A brilliant victory in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood was supplemented by a game, all-the-way success in the Geoffrey Freer at this track in August.

And though he could not quite adopt successful trailblazing tactics in the Cumberland Lodge at Ascot on October 1, heavy rain in the build-up to the race certainly did not help his cause.

A proven stayer with a touch of class, it is good to see Pat Smullen back at the helm as that combination have this season forged a particularly fruitful alliance.

Just as significant is the fact the forecast is dry and bright, which must surely be construed as a significant boon for Kings Fete. Those that keep the trust in WHAT

ABOUT CARLO can finally cash in when the five-year-old runs in the Bathwick Tyres Handicap.

A course-and-distance scorer last September off a 1lb higher mark, things have not exactly gone to plan since then as his winless sequence has extended to 11 races.

He has looked a little more engaged on his last two runs, most recently when an unlucky-in-running fourth in a 1¼ -mile handicap at Newbury.

Meanwhile, likely prospects at Kelso include BALLYROCK in the EDF-ER Handicap Chase.

SELECTIONS KELSO: 2.00 Middlebrow, 2.35 Ballyboker Breeze, 3.10 Ballyrock, 3.40 Gran Paradiso, 4.15 Oak Vintage, 4.50 My Idea, 5.25 Present Trend.

NEWBURY: 1.15 Elas Ruby, 1.45 Colibri, 2.20 Kings Fete, 2.50 WHAT ABOUT CARLO (NAP), 3.20 Cristal Fizz, 3.55 Haraka, 4.30 Procurator, 5.05 Aflame.

DOUBLE: My Idea and What About Carlo.