'He's the one they have to beat' - find out who is confident for the Greenham

Saturday: 3.00 Newbury
Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (Group 3) | 7f | 3yo colts and geldings | ITV4/RTV

Christophe Soumillon makes a rare appearance at the Berkshire course principally to renew acquaintances with Perfect Power who he partnered to Group 1 wins on either side of the English Channel last autumn.

The multiple French champion, who also has picked up the ride on Thunderous for Charlie and Mark Johnston in the opener (1.50), first steered Richard Fahey-trained speedster to glory in the Prix Morny at Deauville in August before following up in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket the following month.

The son of Ardad, who is a general 14-1 chance for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, did well to overcome a wide draw in stall one that day and can be marked up on that showing.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, said: “Christophe was very keen to come over to ride Perfect Power. The horse has been working as well as we could wish for and I think he’s the one they all have to beat.

"He’s moving up to seven furlongs for the first time and if he does well he’ll go for the 2,000 Guineas and if not then he could drop back in trip for something like the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.”

As regards to the ground, Raymond added: "He'll enjoy the drying ground as he won on a fast surface last year. Of the opposition, Ralph Beckett's horse Angel Bleu won on soft so I don't know if he would want it to dry out too much."

Angel Bleu struck up a good relationship with Frankie Dettori last year and heads here on a four-timer after ending his juvenile career with a flourish.

He kicked it off with victory in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood in July on soft ground and the son of Dark Angel went onto greater glory on even easier conditions when landing a Group 1 double in France in October.

Angel Bleu: enjoyed a fine juvenile seasonCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Firstly, Marc Chan's colt had the reopposing The Wizard Of Eye back in fifth when accounting for Noble Truth and Ancient Rome in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere over this seven-furlong trip at Longchamp on Arc day.

Just 20 days later, Angel Bleu handed a step up to a mile when landing the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud by a head from old rival Ancient Rome.

What they say

James Doyle, rider of Flaming Rib
I’ve never ridden him before but he looks like one of a few in the race who are testing out their petrol tanks in regards to trip. It’s his first start for Hugo [Palmer] and it'll be interesting to see how he gets on.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Gubbass and Lusail
I’ve been happy with both of them. Gubbass won the Super Sprint and he's a good horse but I want him to behave better than he did the last time he went to Newbury, when he was second favourite for the Mill Reef. We’re going to put a hood on him and hope he's over those anxiety issues. He got himself very hot and hopefully he'll run better. Lusail was a very good two-year-old. He's working well and has a good attitude. The ground should be fine for him. Whether he's going to get a mile in time, we'll learn on Saturday. He hated the softer ground at Doncaster last time and he was wheel-spinning the whole way, so he'll be avoiding any ground with the word soft in it from now on.

John Egan, rider of The Wizard Of Eye
He ran better than his finishing position would suggest in the Saudi Derby. He was on the bridle approaching the furlong pole but the mile took a lot of getting on the dirt and he weakened out of it. Stan’s wife Sara rides him out and she’s pleased with his progress. I expect him to outrun his odds.

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 Newbury: Christophe Soumillon out to make rare British trip pay on this 'cracking horse'

2.25 Newbury: Charlie Appleby: 'we're using this as a springboard to the French 1,000 Guineas'

3.00 Newbury: 'There seems to be lots of would-be sprinters' - Keith Melrose on Greenham trend (Members’ Club)

3.14 Musselburgh: Can Emmet Mullins do it again? Grand National hero takes aim at Flat prize

3.25 Cork: Can consistent Thunder Kiss continue red-hot Ger Lyons form in Listed prize?

3.35 Newbury: Which Spring Cup runner 'clearly has some unfinished business'?

4.50 Fairyhouse: Paul Townend puts faith in Farout as Willie Mullins fields seven in feature race

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