Persse looks well set for trophy test

Charlton’s charge can continue Royal Ascot form in July meeting opener

ATTY PERSSE

can take a step up in class in his stride to lift the Bahrain Trophy on the opening day of the July meeting at Newmarket.

As a son of Frankel, Roger Charlton’s charge has always had a tall reputation and he looked like living up to it by winning his first two starts before he was derailed by Laraaib at Haydock.

That proved to be merely a minor setback though as Atty Persse returned to victorious form in style by making virtually every yard of the running to win the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot by a comfortable three lengths.

Starting from a wide draw, Atty Persse had to use up a fair bit of gas to get to the front, but he was hardly stopping at the end which suggests this one mile five furlong trip should be well within his compass. Another Godolphin-owned colt,

FRONTIERSMAN, can also claim a first Pattern success in the Princess of Wales’s Arqana Racing Club Stakes

Charlie Appleby’s charge has been progressing at a rate of knots this term, having won twice as a three-year-old in 2016.

As a son of Dubawi out of the great Ouija Board, one would have expected Frontiersman to be holding his own in Group race company and when pitched in at the highest level in the Coronation Cup, he certainly lived up to expectations.

HehadwonacompetitiveNewmarket handicap on his previous start but Frontiersman showed he is capable of much more than that when pressuring Highland Reel all the way up the straight at Epsom.

Frontiersmanneverlookedlikegetting his head in front as the track really did not seem to suit, but in being beaten just under two lengths, he underlined his so far untapped potential.

This Group Two heat obviously marks a slight step down in company and it will be no penalty kick with the likes of last year’s Eclipse hero and fellow Godolphin runner Hawkbill in opposition, but Frontiersman appeals as a relatively unexposed type with plenty of options on the horizon. SELECTIONS:

CARLISLE: 1.30 Kynren, 2.00 Hajjam, 2.35 Affina, 3.10 El Hombre, 3.45 Dealer’s Choice, 4.20 Questo, 4.50 Our Kylie.

NEWMARKET: 1.50 ATTY PERSSE (NAP), 2.25 Invincible Army, 3.00 Cartographer, 3.35 Frontiersman, 4.05 Toomer, 4.35 Orvar, 5.05 Ronald R.

DOUBLE: Atty Persse and Frontiersman.