Back Battaash to do it again

Hills’ highly-strung charge should have enough for repeat victory in King George Stakes

BATTAASH can repeat his victory of last year in the Qatar King George Stakes on day four at Goodwood.

It was in this five-furlong heat 12 months ago that Charlie Hills’ charge really marked himself out as a horse on the up, and although his progress was subsequently checked next time, his Abbaye win at the end of the year showed he is truly top rank.

The four-year-old has certainly not done anything this term to disprove that opinion, winning the Temple Stakes at Haydock before having to settle for second in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot.

While that run might be disappointing on the face of it, Battaash was prominent throughout and those early exertions possibly just told as Blue Point had more in reserve on the run to the line.

Hills is always slightly fighting against Battaash’s rather highlystrung temperament, but Goodwood’s atmosphere is decidedly less high octane than Ascot and it will be a surprise if he cannot regain the winning thread.

It would similarly be a shock if

MIRAGE DANCER cannot prevail in the Bombay Sapphire Glorious Stakes.

Sir Michael Stoute’s runner had to settle for second behind Best Solution at Newmarket on his most recent outing, when the adoption of frontrunning tactics possibly did not bring out the very best in him.

Nevertheless it was a decent effort and having already won over a mile and a half at this track back in May, the Sussex Downs holds no fears for this son of Frankel.

SELECTIONS

GOODWOOD: 1.50 Mirage Dancer, 2.25 Regal Reality, 3.00 South Seas, 3.35 BATTAASH (NAP), 4.10 Leading Spirit, 4.40 Betty F, 5.15 Celestial Force.

MUSSELBURGH: 5.40 Luv U Whatever, 6.10 Flint Hill, 6.45 Pepys, 7.20 Dapper Man, 7.50 Tick Tock Croc, 8.20 Surrender, 8.50 Arnold.

DOUBLE: Battaash and South Seas.