Tashkhan can boost Berkshire Cup hopes
Tashkhan can enhance his Ascot Gold Cup claims by landing the Longines Sagaro Stakes at the Berkshire track on Wednesday.
Brian Ellison's four-yearold impressed in defeat by Trueshan over the same two-mile distance on his last visit in October, going down by length and a half in the British Champions Long Distance Cup, where he had three-times Gold Cup winner Stradivarius behind in third.
While that run came in good to soft ground, he is capable on a faster surface, which he is likely to encounter on this occasion.
He won on his first outing last season and following a six-month break, makes his return against six rivals - who have all had a run this term in a modest renewal of the Group Three contest.
On official ratings, he is 3lb superior to his nearest rival and if he is fit enough, he should be good enough to gain a fourth career success.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint runner-up Go Bears Go makes his seasonal debut in the Merriebelle Stables Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes, registered as the Pavilion Stakes.
David Loughnane's charge beat Castle Star in the Group Two Railway Stakes last season, before finishing third behind Ebro River - again ahead of Castle Star - in the Phoenix Stakes.
Go Bears Go has shown a liking for the track, winning on his novice debut last May before finishing runner-up in the Group Two Norfolk Stakes at the Royal meeting, and could take the beating in the six-furlong Group Three contest.
Valiant Prince can complete a hat-trick for Charlie Appleby in the Paradise Stakes, a trial for the Queen Anne Stakes.
The gelded son of Dubawi won two decent mile handicaps at Meydan earlier this year and takes on three rivals in the Listed event run over a similar trip.
Though both of those wins came on an artificial surface, this decent ground should hold no fears and the stable is in outstanding form, with a 50 per cent strike rate over the last two weeks.
After two all-weather spins, Red Kite has been found a great opportunity to get off the mark for Charlie and Mark Johnston in the Read Kevin Blake On Attheraces.com Restricted Maiden Stakes at Brighton, and the yard may well strike with Mackenzie Rose, who can open her account following a series of near misses last season in the Join Racing TV Handicap at Scottish course Musselburgh.
Gulmarg has been working well for Sean Woods and can strike at the first time of asking in the five-furlong Northern Commercials Iveco 'S' Way Novice Stakes at Pontefract.