Enbihaar primed to return to success
Enbihaar should return to winning ways in the Group Two Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes on the final day of Goodwood tomorrow after a satisfactory seasonal return.
The five-year-old was an impressive winner of this 14-furlong heat last year, breezing up by five lengths in what was a breakthrough season for John Gosden’s charge.
She had previously won the Lancashire Oaks and went on to add the Park Hill Stakes to her tally before having to settle for third when upped to Group One company in the Prix de Royallieu at Paris Long champ on Arc weekend.
Soft ground was against her there, as it was on her return at Newmarket when she turned in a fair effort to finish fourth behind Dame Malliot over 12 furlongs – a trip which may just be a little sharp for her nowadays. Back up in distance, it will be disappointing if Enbihaar cannot bounce back to her best.
Swindler blotted his copybook when refusing to enter the stalls at Royal Ascot, but should be given chance to redeem himself in the Unibet Stewards’ Cup.
The four-year-old was good enough as a juvenile to be beaten just a head behind Sussex Stakes hero Mohaather, but it would be fair to say he has not subsequently found the same levels of form as that rival.
That said, he is no slouch with two wins to his credit last season in competitive events at Ascot, winning in particularly eyecatching style on the second occasion in September despite hanging across the track in the finish.
Ed Walker pitched him back into action at Newmarket in June, with his threeand-a-half-length fifth being a creditable one as the race was not run to suit.
Swindler was well fancied for the Silver Wokingham, so it was disappointing to see him withdrawn, but Walker and his team are sure to have been working on that in the interim and the Invincible Spirit gelding remains on a competitive mark.
The consolation Unibet Stewards’ Sprint Handicap can go the way of May Remain for George Baker and Cieren Fallon. Previously trained in Ireland, he has not been out of the first three in four starts for Baker so far this term, eventually striking gold in a competitive heat at Sandown last time. Racing over five furlongs, he kept on strongly at the finish so stepping back up to six – a trip over which he has been successful in the past – should not be a problem. Katara can make a seamless switch to Listed level in the British Stallion Studs EBF
Chalice Stakes at Newmarket.
Well beaten on her only juvenile start, Sir Michael Stoute’s charge was just touched off on her debut at York before truly showing her rivals a clean pair of heels on the Kempton all-weather.