Lope Y Fernandez looks value bet

Surprise appearance suggests O’Brien means business at Kempton

The racing world will be willing on Enable to reclaim her crown in the Unibet September Stakes at Kempton – but none of them will get rich backing for her to do so.

John Gosden’s brilliant mare is likely to start at odds of 2-9 or shorter, and should surely land them against her assembled opposition at the Sunbury track.

On a busy and most competitive weekend, she is of course the likeliest winner of the lot, but races such as Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup present much more enticing rewards for finding the right horse.

Aidan O’Brien’s LOPE Y FERNANDEZ appeared as good as ruled out of the Group One on Merseyside in midweek, so it was a shock not just to see his name among the 13 declared but with Ryan Moore available to ride.

A full explanation of what changed in the space of 24 hours would fill this page and many more, but, suffice to say, new relaxations in coronavirus protocols brought Moore out of lockdown in Ireland, and at the same time Lope Y Fernandez demonstrated his present well-being on the gallops.

Those who had already mentally eliminated him from their calculations may therefore be well advised to think again because Lope Y Fernandez has plenty going for him at Haydock.

The three-year-old has yet to strike this summer but has faced tough tasks, twice at trips beyond what appears to be his optimum.

Histrainerhascometotheconclusion that this six furlongs suits best, and also believes the anticipated ease in the ground will be no hindrance at all.

Lope Y Fernandez did not appear to stay but still ran very well in defeat when third on his first start of the campaign behind Siskin in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

He was then a major disappointment at Royal Ascot but has since finished within a length of Godolphin stars Pinatubo and Space Blues in two Deauville Group Ones at up to seven furlongs.

Hello Youmzain, defending his crown this weekend, was just a head in front of him on the latter occasion – conceding 4lb – and although the weight differential is halved here, Lope Y Fernandez is value at around double the odds of both his old rival and likely favourite Dream Of Dreams. SELECTIONS

ASCOT: 12.45 Innovator, 1.20 Last Sunset, 1.55 Rose Hip, 2.30 Pretty In Grey, 3.05 Cepheus, 3.40 May Sonic, 4.15 Society Lion.

HAYDOCK: 1.10 Urban War, 1.45 Khaloosy, 2.15 Midrarr, 2.50 Rajinsky, 3.25 LOPE Y FERNANDEZ ( NAP), 4.00 Wonderwork, 4.35 Egrecio.

KEMPTON: 1.30 Zoffarelli, 2.00 Mystery Smiles, 2.35 Enable, 3.10 Recovery Run, 3.45 Bullfinch, 4.20 Anglo Saxson, 4.55 Alqifaar, 5.30 Cappananty Con.

DOUBLE: Lope Y Fernandez and Rajinsky.

Tempus, ridden by Jason Watson, pulls away to win the Beefeater Handicap at Ascot yesterday.