Huxley Stakes: Stoute runner likely to be key player from the front

Friday: 2.40 Chester
Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Ire-Incentive Scheme Huxley Stakes (Group 2) | 1m2½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/Sky

Early season Group 2s can often provide the springboard to mid-season Group 1s but the last four winners of the Huxley Stakes have failed to make the transition to the next level.

Armory, Forest Ranger (twice) and Deauville never truly kicked on but Poet's Word and Addeybb were beaten in those races and developed into stars of the sport.

The late withdrawal of Al Aasy means we are lacking a true Group 1 performer, but perhaps Megallan can progress into that.

Megallan's dam is a half-sister to Derby winner Golden Horn and he strongly pressed St Leger winner Hurricane Lane in the Dante last season when beaten half a length.

The French Derby proved a little too hot on his next outing but he bounced back in style by nailing Sir Busker at Salisbury over a mile and serving up a career-best RPR of 115.

The four-year-old returned in April with a decent second to Master Of The Seas over 1m1f in the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket, but the winner obliged easier than the length-and-a-quarter-winning margin suggested.

That is not to crab the effort as his RPR at Newmarket matched his exploits at Salisbury and a 115 figure would have been good enough to win four of the last nine runnings of the Huxley.

Although he stays this distance, perhaps connections feel his future lies over shorter as his only long-term entry for the rest of the season is in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.

Solid Stone is one of two likely pace angles in the race along with Majestic Dawn and represents Sir Michael Stoute, who won this in 2016, and Solid Stone is the other key player on form.

Sir Michael Stoute: Solid Stone's trainerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Like Megallan, he too has the crucial prep run in the bank. Solid Stone weakened out of contention in the last furlong and a half in a Saudi Arabian Group 3 in February but is a danger if recapturing his progressive form from last season.

He reopposes with Megallan on 7lb better terms for a marginal defeat at Salisbury and it's possible he can improve further under Stoute's guidance at the age of six.

Magestic Dawn is probably slightly up against it on his comeback against two high-class runners with a fitness edge, while Certain Lad races for the first time since November 2020 and has half a stone to find on the figures.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

'Perfect place to return'

Do not dismiss the idea of a bold run from Certain Lad, despite an absence stretching back to November 2020.

The talented gelding reached a peak rating of 112 before running in Bahrain 532 days ago and is thrilling connections in advance of his return.

Certain Lad: Group 3 winner two years agoCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

He is owned by Chris Hirst and trained by Mick Channon, whose son and assistant Jack said: "He had a setback after running in Bahrain and had all of last year off in the paddock.

"He came back in at the start of 2022 and hasn't put a foot wrong. He's had a flawless preparation and he's in absolutely brilliant nick. He will, no doubt, come on for the run, but he's as good as we can get him and we're hopeful of a really nice run.

"He seems the horse of old, if not better, and he was rated 112 before that time off, so if he can run to near that he'd be right in the mix."

The consistent Certain Lad was a Group 3 winner at York's Ebor meeting two years ago and Channon added: "He seems better going left-handed and the ground will be ideal as he likes a bit of ease in it. Everything points to this being the perfect place to start back.

"His setback was a very simple one that just needed time and thankfully Chris Hirst is a very patient man, who allowed us the opportunity to get him back in this form; so hopefully we can reward him."

What they say

Paul Cole, joint-trainer of Majestic Dawn
I'd say he's a race or gallop short. He's never been a very sound horse and there's been no rain around here, so his preparation has been on the all-weather, which isn't satisfactory. He's working well and is well in himself, but he may need the race. The ground up at Chester will be fine, but I'd like to have given him a good blowout on the grass at home.

Megallan: should improve from recent Newmarket appearanceCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Megallan
He was taking on a proper Group 1 horse in Master Of The Seas at Newmarket last time and ran well to be second. He's come on for that and has form on soft, so hopefully should run a nice race.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Saeed Suhail, owner of Solid Stone
You can definitely put a line through his run in Saudi Arabia last time. The ground was too firm and the draw was no good – he's better than that. He's been working well enough and doesn't seem to show much at home, but he's been picking up lately. He's won on softish ground, so it shouldn't be a problem, although he doesn't want it too soft. He should have a good shout.
Reporting by James Burn

Friday's Chester previews:

1.30 Chester: Can ace claimer Harry Davies prove the difference on Revich's Roodee return?

2.05 Chester: 'He'll enjoy the step up in trip' - Lincoln flop Mujtaba on a retrieval mission

3.15 Chester: Chester Cup: 'He's in off a nice mark' - trainers on their big-race contenders

What role will the draw play in this year's Chester Cup? Graeme Rodway's verdict

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