VARIAN EXCITED TO SEE CHARYN KICK ON
There will be no Paddington standing in Charyn’s way when he returns to action in the William hill Doncaster Mile today.
Roger Varian’s four-year-old proved the most consistent of performers during his Classic season but had the misfortune of bumping into Aidan O’brien’s now retired leading miler on three occasions at Group One level last term.
The son of Dark Angel is the toprated for his seasonal reappearance in slower ground than his handler would prefer, but nevertheless the Carlburg Stables handler is excited to see how the colt performs now with plenty of big-race experience under his belt.
“He had a good year last year and it was a shame he drew a blank in terms of wins, but he put up some fine performances,” said Varian.
“The Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes spring to mind as pretty solid performances against top company.
“We’re looking forward to him this year and he’s training nicely. He looks like he’s matured a bit more and we’re going to get his season started on Saturday.
Heavy
“He’s top-rated and closely matched to Knight on a couple of his runs last year, but it will be tough ground on Saturday, it’s going to be heavy and not ideal ground.
“I think he’s better on better ground, but he’s ready to get started and it has been the plan to come here, so we can’t do anything about the ground on this occasion.”
Karl Burke’s Holloway Boy has been off the track since finishing a length and a half fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, while Astral Beau defends the title she claimed in good style last season.
Grey’s Monument produced arguably a career best to scoop Listed honours at Kempton in December, while David O’meara’s new recruit Padishakh and William Stone’s Dashing Roger complete the field of seven.