Tread warily as Group 1 players hang around for autumn all-weather honours

British Stallion Studs EBF Hyde Stakes (Listed) (All-Weather Championships Fast Track Qualifier) | 1m, 3yo+ | RTV

Romance has its place but it invariably pays punters to be sceptical. When Group 1 horses turn up in a Listed race at Kempton in November, the safest response is not "wow" but "why?"

The eight-year-old Almodovar is apparently here because he did not take to retirement. He will need this run, according to new trainer Ed Walker, and it requires a huge leap of faith to expect him to show the form he displayed when second in the 2018 Prix d'Ispahan on his latest appearance.

This year's 2,000 Guineas sixth Kinross looks to be here on some sort of retrieval mission having lost his action and finished last when sent off favourite for a Listed race at Newbury in September. And the 1,000 Guineas fifth Romsey has yet to reproduce that possibly flattering effort – she was a 200-1 shot at Newmarket – in two outings since.

Khuzaam has been off the course since he was beaten a short head in this race last year, when he led until the final stride under Jim Crowley and will do well to match that form first time back.

All of which suggests that William Haggas may well have found the perfect opportunity for Johan to step up in grade.

The three-year-old beat a well-thought-of rival when pipping Brunch at Ayr on Gold Cup day in September and looked a cut above a handicapper when defying a mark of 99 at Chelmsford last month.

He is clearly on the up and Racing Post Ratings suggest he does not need to find much if anything to go very close in this higher grade.

Race analysis by David Carr

What they say

Ed Walker, trainer of Almodovar
He's kind of ended up here by accident really having not taken to retirement too well. He had a racecourse gallop recently, but he is a massive horse and there is no doubt he will need the run after such a long time off.

Ed Walker: warned Almodovar will need the runCredit: Edward Whitaker

Roger Varian, trainer of Khuzaam
He was a bit unlucky not to win last year and one or two issues have kept him off since then, but he's had this on his radar for a while and has been training nicely. Hopefully he can start back on the right note and we'll keep him going through winter.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Lord Rapscallion
We've not had him long and thanks to Tom Morley for picking him up for us at the sales. He's had a long season and this is a fact-finding mission to see where we are with him.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Via Serendipity
He pulled both front shoes off when beaten at Yarmouth last time which is a good enough excuse for a below-par effort. His all-weather form is better than his turf form and he has plenty going for him from his inside draw.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Imrahor
He's a horse we've always liked and the idea is to get some black type with him although his outside draw is far from ideal.

William Haggas, trainer of Johan
He won well at Chelmsford and is up in grade but should run a nice race as he's a progressive horse.

Rae Guest, trainer of Cry Havoc
The idea is to get some black type as she's up to a mark of 92 now. She's never run a bad race and shapes as if she should get a mile.

Reporting by David Milnes

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