Labeebb must defy 9lb rise to score hat-trick but can improve

La be ebb can bring up a hat-trick of wins in the Victoria Racing Club Handicap at Ascot today.

Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, Labeebb has made great strides since finishing third on his racecourse bow at Kempton in June, with a move up to 12 furlongs appearing to be the making of him.

He duly hit the mark at Wolverhampton on his second outing, but subsequently lost that win in the stewards’ room after he was adjudged to have impeded the second. Never theless, Lab eebb put that reverse well behind when lifting a Newmarket novice event by 4¾ lengths next time before proving an opening mark of 79 too lenient when galloping out a near four-length winner on his first handicap outing.

The assessor has hiked him 9lb for that verdict, but the manner of his success suggests there is plenty more in the locker and Labeebb can defy both a higher mark and a rise in company in this event.

While Lab eebb lost out in a stewards’ inquiry, Temp us was the beneficiary of one last time but can do it under his own steam in the Beef eater Handicap.

The four-year- old finished ahead behind Over write at New bury, but there was no doubt that rival had cost him a winning chance when wandering around under pressure at the finish.

That was Tempus’ first outing in 302 days and only his fourth start overall, having won two of his three in 2019 and finished second as a juvenile. Roger Charlton’s runner hails from an excellent Khalid Abdullah family, with his dam Passage Of Time having been an admirable performer for Sir Henry Cecil during her racing days and producing the likes of Time Test as a broodmare since. His sire, Kingman, is another blue-chip Abdullah name and Tempus looks the type who can go on to much better things in time.

Frankie Dettori does not put in to o many Friday evening stints at Kemp ton, but the John Gosden-trained Megallan could be worth the effort in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes.

The team has a big day in prospect, with Enable running at the Sunbur y venue tomorrow, and Megallan can ensure the weekend starts on a positive note by building on his debut win. Despite his inexperience both before and during the race, he fairly flew home by 3¼ lengths at Newmarket last month and looks a colt of real potential.

His dam was Grade Two and Three-placed in America, and a half-sister to Derby winner Golden Horn.