O’Meara is in contention for a double

SO Beloved can spearhead a double for trainer David O’Meara in the Price Bailey Ben Marshall Stakes at Newmarket today, writes Captain Wessex.

The eight-year-old has been pretty thoroughly tested in what has been an up-and-down year, but he ends the campaign on a mark of 107 – not far from where he began on 110.

So Beloved hit a perch of 112 in midsummer after being beaten just under five lengths when eighth in the Queen Anne at huge odds, before hitting the bar at Group Three level subsequently.

The bare figures of his form do not look all the promising, but a couple of good efforts in Group One company should not be ignored and this represents a much easier task.

So Beloved does have to turn around recent form with Muntadab, who had his measure in an optional claimer at Doncaster, but O’Meara’s charge is vastly better off at the weights this time and it will be disappointing if he is not in the mix.

Frankuus makes his debut for O’Meara in the Weatherbys General Stud Book James Seymour Stakes and if he has been refreshed by a change of stable and a long break, he might be primed to strike.

Previously trained by Mark Johnston, Frankuus has two Group Three wins to his name but he appeared to have lost the plot when well beaten on his only start this year at Newmarket in April.

O’Meara is renowned for his skill with horses such as this Frankel colt and it could be dangerous to rule him out.

Mistress Of Love is another on a retrieval mission in the British Stallion Studs EBF Montrose Fillies’ Stakes, while over the jumps Monbeg Theatre warmed up for the bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby with a course-and-distance victory and he is another who should appreciate a sound surface this afternoon.