'We nearly lost him' - from death's door to glory for Ascot hope Tiber Flow

Saturday: Newbury

William Haggas, a big-race winner with the fantastic Baaeed, enjoyed a treble on the card, which started when Jon and Julia Aisbitt's homebred Tiber Flow struck in the Carnarvon Stakes, which had bookmakers trimming him for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next month.

Betfair and Paddy Power go 20-1 (from 33) and Haggas might view those odds as generous.

"If you look at his near-hind leg you'll see all those white hairs on it," he said. "This horse had four general anaesthetics in six weeks. At the time we thought we were going to lose him.

"He had knee surgery, then he had an infection in a hock. So he had the general for the knee surgery, then for the hock, then it had to be flushed so they had to knock him down again, then they had to flush it again. He's a bloody tough horse."

Haggas, half-considering the Jersey at the royal meeting too, added: "He's learning how to sprint now and hopefully he comes on again. He'll be a 12-1 or 16-1 shot [for the Commonwealth Cup], but is the type of horse to run well and I don't think we've got a lot to lose by going for the Commonwealth Cup."

The Newmarket ace and jockey Tom Marquand completed a double when Ilaraab landed the Al Rayyan Stakes, which is registered as the Aston Park.

He has Group 1 goals too – the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud – but not at the royal meeting.

Haggas, who trains the five-year-old for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, said: "He ran at Ascot last year in the Hardwicke and hated it, so I'm trying to keep him to left-handed tracks."

Ilaraab sticks on wellCredit: Mark Cranham

Blue is the colour

Blue was right to the fore on the day Chelsea contested the FA Cup final against Liverpool as Israr and Muraad carried the Shadwell silks to victory in the London Gold Cup and mile handicap – completing a memorable treble for the owner-breeders and jockey Jim Crowley after Baaeed had dazzled as well.

Muraad is trained in Lambourn by Owen Burrows, who said: "He's been kept as a lead horse, but I didn't need him this morning as Minzaal ran at York on Wednesday and thought he may as well have come here, instead of doing a piece of work this morning.

"He's an absolute star and that's given me as much of a buzz as a winner has for a long time."

Israr (blue and whie cap) powers homeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Force is strong

Richard Hannon was drooling after Brocklesby winner Persian Force bolted up in the conditions race for two-year-olds.

He is bound for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, which Hannon's father Richard snr landed with Canford Cliffs.

"He's as nice a two-year-old as we've had for years," the trainer said. "Canford Cliffs was a standout and this fella is a similar ilk – one of which we haven't seen for a long time."

Persian Force hacks up to cement his claims for Royal AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Oaks dilemma

A healthy crowd just shy of 11,000 were treated to the brilliance of Baaeed and a possible Classic contender in Nashwa, who landed the 1m2f Listed race.

Now 7-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power for the Cazoo Oaks, she runs in the colours of breeder Imad Alsagar, who part-owned 2007 Derby hero Authorized.

He said: "She's entered in the Oaks and the French Oaks and if we go a mile and a half we're going into the unknown, but we're not making any decisions today."

Nashwa comes home in styleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Results, replays and analysis

Read more from Newbury:

Lockinge: 'I'm not saying Baaeed is Frankel - although he's heading in that direction'

'In Frankel territory' - Teddy Grimthorpe, John Oxx and John Reid discuss Baaeed (£)

'The best miler since Frankel' – pundits drooling over Baaeed's Lockinge romp

Peter Thomas: Baaeed welcomed into the Great Milers Club – now for the adulation he deserves (£)

'Happy days' - David Cameron celebrates as former No 10 insider wins at Newbury

Catch our in-depth review of the weekend's racing every Monday in the Racing Post. With big-race analysis from Classic-winning jockey George Baker, Chris Cook's take on the weekend action, eyecatchers from the Raceform team, weekly awards and much more, it is not to be missed.