Time to Bank on Benbatl at Newmarket

Multiple Group One winner Benbatl can prove he is still top class by reclaiming his title in Newmarket’s Joel Stakes tomorrow.

Saeed bin Suroor’s stable star has been restricted to just two runs in the last 20 months, but his most recent effort to be narrowly defeated at Goodwood four weeks ago indicates the fire still burns at the age of seven.

That was at this same level, in the Group Two Celebration Mile – and on his first appearance in almost a year, Benbatl overcame an awkward start to navigate his way to the front a furlong out only to be beaten a short-head by the fast-finishing Lavender’s Blue.

The latter was outrunning big odds to post a career-best, but the established calibre of those who finished behind Benbatl give the form plenty of substance.

Benbatl boasts a highclass, globe-trotting CV but has an exemplary Newmarket record too – as winner of this race two years ago and a close and honourable third to Classic hero Kameko in it 12 months ago, while he was also placed in the 2017 Craven Stakes. It has long been apparent he needs good ground at least to be seen at anywhere near his best, and his trainer has studiously avoided anything more testing.

Conditions therefore promise to be perfect, with a forecast for dry and increasingly warm weather throughout the Cambridgeshire meeting.

The Godolphin contender’s sternest challenge may well come from one wearing the same famous livery, with Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas runner-up Master Of The Seas returning over course and distance. His short-head defeat behind Jim Bolger’s hugely consistent and busy Group One performer Poetic Flare sets a lofty standard – but whereas it is reasonable to anticipate Master Of The Seas improving incrementally after a setback which has enforced his absence since the start of May, Benbatl has renewed momentum and race fitness on his side.

Lavender’s Blue could also hold the key to Pattern success earlier on a classy card.

Like Benbatl, Fooraat finished second to Amanda Perrett’s mare – albeit in a contrasting environment, at Listed level on Kempton’s Polytrack back in April.

Fooraat has run just twice since, again behind Lavender’s Blue in Group Two company at Royal Ascot and then unlucky to be beaten a head after meeting trouble up to an extended 10 furlongs at York.

Roger Varian’s four-yearold returns to a mile for the British EBF Rosemary Stakes.

Sea La Rosa is a filly with fair prospects of exceeding market expectations against her elders for trainer William Haggas and jockey Tom Marquand in the Group Three Princess Royal Stakes.