Ghostwatch can haunt rivals
● Appleby gelding looks like a strong Ascot contender
Ghostwatch can deliver for Godolphin in Ascot’s Londonmetric Noel Murless Stakes.
The Listed event for threeyear-old stayers has attracted an eight-strong field of plausible contenders.
But none is more so than Charlie Appleby’s charge, with whom regular jockey William Buick appears to get on especially well.
The pair certainly clicked in York’s Melrose Handicap over this same trip when Ghostwatch ground out a game victory on his first start since being gelded in mid-summer.
He is closely-matched on that running at the Ebor Festival meeting with the reopposing Mekong.
Sir Michael Stoute’s colt went off favourite that day but could get no closer than a twolength fourth. Conceding 1lb then and back at level weights here, Ghostwatch has since bumped into First Eleven and was no match for him over a shorter trip at this track.
A one-time Derby entry, however, Ghostwatch is shaping as though he can repay plenty more of his £2 millionplus yearling price-tag whenever stamina is key – and this looks a handy place to start.
In the preceding Original Harrogate Water Handicap, Aljady may reward investment too.
Richard Fahey’s colt began his career with a northern hattrick over this six-furlong distance. Up to seven for his first foray south in a Goodwood handicap at the end of August, Aljady appeared to get the trip fine but had to settle for sixth – beaten less than three lengths.
Connections clearly believe the drop back will be no impediment and Aljady can prove he is on a winning mark in just his second handicap.
At Wolverhampton, punters can land an early blow with Masquerade Bling in the first race, Division 1 of the Banks’s Amber Bitter Handicap.
Neil Mulholland’s four-yearold has had a break since a successful trip to Jersey put him on this hat-trick bid. Before that, he overcame trouble in running to score here and may still be on an upward curve.
Meanwhile, Enable will break from stall six when she defends her crown in the Qatar Prix de l’arc de Triomphe on Sunday.
John Gosden’s filly was a brilliant winner of Europe’s premier middle-distance prize at Chantilly last season.
She has missed much of the current campaign through injury, but following a footperfect comeback at Kempton last month, she is a red-hot favourite to become the eighth dual Arc victor at Parislong-champ this weekend.
Enable is set to face 18 rivals, with stablemate Cracksman the only horse to withdraw before yesterday’s final declaration stage.
Aidan O’brien’s five-strong team is headed by St Leger hero Kew Gardens (stall 14). The Ballydoyle handler also saddles Capri (four), Hunting Horn (12), Nelson (three) and Magical (16).
The William Haggas-trained Sea Of Class was handed a far from ideal starting berth in stall 15, while Roger Varian’s Defoe is even wider in 18.