Pinatubo form: Highland Chief camp plot Royal Lodge date

Chesham Stakes third Highland Chief is on course to return in the Royal Lodge Stakes on Saturday week, with Pinatubo's blistering performance in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday boosting an already strong form line.

Trained by Paul Cole, the twice-raced Highland Chief has not been seen on the racecourse since his fine third at Royal Ascot when showing signs of greenness when four and a half lengths behind Pinatubo and Lope Y Fernandez, who has since won a Group 3.

The break, identical to that of Cole's 2013 Chesham winner Berkshire, was planned but Oliver Cole, the Derby-winning trainer's son and assistant, is looking forward to the return of Fitri and Jim Hay's son of Gleneagles in the Juddmonte-sponsored Group 2 at Newmarket.

Cole said: "The Chesham form is looking good, isn’t it? He’s come on a lot from his last run, he’s a bigger, stronger horse. We’ve been very patient with him because he’s had to grow into his frame. Then again, he’s got a lot of natural ability.

Highland Chief finished third in a strong renewal of the Chesham Stakes behind PinatuboCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He should be spot on for the Royal Lodge and it’ll be very interesting to watch, obviously we’ve not gone gung-ho with him at home but there shouldn’t be any excuses."

Cole was quick to note plenty went wrong for Highland Chief in the Chesham, adding: "We treat him like a good horse but he ran very green at Ascot. He was all over the place, got bumped twice and still ran very creditably.

"I think he’ll put up a much better performance in the Royal Lodge."

Highland Chief is not the only smart juvenile from Whatcombe Stables being targeted at back-end two-year-old Group races, with the Hay-owned Glengowan set for a return to Longchamp on Arc day in the Prix Marcel Boussac after winning on his debut at the Paris track this month.

Celtic Art, second in the valuable Convivial Maiden at Ebor meeting and subsequently successful in a Goodwood maiden, had his York form franked by Molatham in the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster last week and is due to run in a Group 3 in France.

However, Oliver Cole revealed that stable star Duke Of Hazzard, winner of his last three races including the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood, will not run again this season.

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