Excellently Poised could lift cloud by stating Ascot case

Excellently Poised looked a talented juvenile when winning at Musselburgh in April but has not been seen since and trainer Bryan Smart is hoping the colt can help put a stressful couple of weeks behind him in today’s Brian Yeardley Stakes at Beverley.

Smart has been caught up in the case of Equine Herpes Virus-1 that is preventing neighbour Kevin Ryan from sending out runners. One of his horses shared a horsebox with a Ryan runner when his had broken down and Smart’s yard has, therefore, been under quarantine for two weeks, preventing him running Excellently Poised, as planned, at Musselburgh last weekend.

The British Horseracing Authority confirmed late yesterday afternoon that Smart was free to resume having runners, although restrictions remain on the Ryan yard.

“We need to know if he’s an Ascot horse, which is why I was desperate to get a run into him,” said Smart of the colt, who is partowned by Sir Alex Ferguson.

“It would have been better ground last week so this whole virus thing has been a pain in more ways than one. I’d have loved to have just had to concentrate on getting him ready, never mind anything else.

“Beverley can get very wet but his dam, Excelette, who I also trained, didn’t mind cut. Mind, she’d have run on a road or through a river, she was teak-tough.

“He’s a very similar type, in truth, not very big but he just wants to please you and I’ve been very pleased with him at home.”

The race looks a hot contest, with Cardsharp, Rufus King and Aireen Faisal all looking well worth their places.

American trainer Wesley Ward will have his strongest Royal Ascot squad yet, with Lady Aurelia, last year’s Queen Mary Stakes winner, spearheading his nine runners.

Ward, who has had seven winners at the meeting, said yesterday: “One I really like is Bound For Nowhere in the Commonwealth Cup, I’m really excited about him, partly because I own him.”