William Knight mulling Royal Ascot options for 'smart' Checkandchallenge

Newmarket trainer William Knight is hoping Checkandchallenge can bounce back from a disappointing run in the 2,000 Guineas when he takes to the stage at Royal Ascot next month.

After an impressive display to win the Listed Burradon Stakes at Newcastle in April, Checkandchallenge was pinpointed as a potential dark horse for the Guineas by four-time champion trainer John Gosden no less, but a rough passage compromised his chance at Newmarket and he beat just one of his 14 rivals.

Owned by Andrew Hetherton, Checkandchallenge returned to Knight's Rathmoy Stables with a sore joint following that run but is back to full health and being aimed towards one of two races at next month's royal meeting.

"He will probably be left in the St James's Palace Stakes but we do have the Jersey Stakes as an option," said Knight. "We'll make a decision closer to the time but I think he's definitely got the speed for seven furlongs [in the Jersey] if we want to come back in trip.

"That will probably be the softer option but we'll take a look at the other race and see how that comes up."

Knight took heart from seeing Imperial Fighter, who finished third to Checkandchallenge in the Burradon, fill the same position in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday and is willing to forgive his horse's run at Newmarket.

"He had a bang to his joint and was sore the next morning," added the trainer. "Whether he clouted himself or another horse did it when they all concertinaed, I'm not sure but we can almost draw a line through it.

"We didn't learn that much from the run but we gave him an easy time for ten days after the Guineas and physically he's done really well for it. He's filled out more and looks good.

"He's yet to transfer his all-weather form to the turf, but Ascot is a more conventional track than Newmarket and I still think our horse is smart."

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