CRYSTAL BAWL
Stoute star to leave Enable backers in tears at Kempton
CRYSTAL OCEAN is fancied to spoil Enable’s return by landing the Group 3 188Bet September Stakes (2.05) at Kempton.
Last year’s Arc heroine Enable is high in the ante-post list for next month’s renewal, despite having been off track since Chantilly last October.
And she faces no pushover in Crystal Ocean, whose only two defeats in his last six outings have been when runner-up in the 2017 St Leger and when going under by a neck to stablemate Poet’s Word in the King George at Ascot in July.
Sir Michael Stoute’s four-year-old has to shoulder a 5lb penalty for his fluent score in Royal Ascot’s Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
But David Probert’s mount comes to Kempton at the top of his game and, after 342 days off, Enable has questions to answer.
After a fine second to Honey Man over the same course and distance last month, HAKEEM
has sound prospects of revenge on 3lb better terms in the Sunbury track’s 188Bet London Mile Handicap Final (3.15).
Hakeem’s trainer William Haggas is taken for a TV MUBTASIM double, courtesy of (nb) in Ascot’s Cunard Handicap (2.45). Later at the royal racecourse, FAIRLIGHT
gets the vote to rack up a hat-trick – he has scored at Newmarket and Brighton on his last two attempts – in the Lavazza Handicap (3.55).
On Haydock’s Sprint Cup undercard, MEKONG Stoute representative (nap) looks a worthy favourite for the opening Unibet Handicap (1.50).
The Frankel colt was asked to do plenty of running from the front when third to Ghostwatch at York’s Ebor meeting last month and remains capable of better. HERE COMES Andrew Balding’s WHEN
(above) captured Goodwood’s Group 1 Sussex Stakes amid monsoon conditions in 2017, so recent downpours point to his chance in the Group 3 Unibet Mile (2.25).
Rain-softened terrain should hold no terrors for BOLDER BOB,
who is the choice for the 32Red Casino Handicap (3.35).