'He's a great addition to the team' - can Wathnan scoop the Criterion Stakes with another big-money recruit?

This is the first running of the Criterion Stakes to be held away from Newmarket after being acquired by York for its new raceday, and it offers a pathway to the City Of York Stakes with today’s winner receiving a run-for-free offer for York’s new Group 1 on Ebor day.

Traditionally a strong Group 3 that has been won by Group 1 winners, Audience and Limato (twice) in the last decade, this year’s race also looks above average for the grade.

Lake Forest has been installed early favourite. A slowly run Queen Anne didn’t play to his strengths last week but last year’s Commonwealth Cup runner-up should get the pace to aim at this time with the likes of Lethal Levi and Quinault in opposition.

A step back up in trip will be no issue for November’s Golden Eagle winner who had last week’s Group 1 winner, Lazzat, half a length behind at Rosehill.

Prague is the other Group 2 winner in the field after landing last year’s Joel Stakes, but carrying a Group 2 penalty against this field looks tough on his seasonal reappearance.

Ed Bethell’s Royal Ascot could hardly have gone any better and his representative, Paborus, is starting to look like a seven-furlong specialist after winning his last four starts at the distance.

This is undoubtedly his toughest task to date but he made easy work of a competitive conditions race at Thirsk last time, beating Mount Athos, a useful yardstick at Listed/Group 3 level, with plenty in hand.

Another improver is Formal, who took her form to a new level in the Surrey Stakes, and she may prove to be the main threat to Lake Forest in receipt of both the age and sex allowance.
Analysis by Phill Anderson

Latest Wathnan recruit open to improvement 

Wathnan Racing bid for more big-race glory as new recruit Paborus is one of the leading fancies for this £100,000 Group 3 race.

Trained by Ed Bethell, the four-year-old was owned by The Yorbus Syndicate until leading operation Wathnan bought him after being impressed with his victory at Thirsk in April. His two-and-a-quarter-length defeat of Mount Athos was his fourth win from six starts.

Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown said: "He's been on the radar for a little while, but it was obviously his run at Thirsk that really captured our attention, and that's when we thought he'd be a great addition to the team.

"He's a big horse, he's been brought along gently by Ed, and he looks very progressive. How high he can go, I don't know, but we'd be hopeful he can continue being progressive for us. You always want to take them to the next level, but we'll find out a little bit more after this."

All four wins have come over this seven-furlong trip and Brown added: "I think seven is his ideal trip, I think it's perfect for him. He wouldn't want the ground to be too quick but he should be competitive."

What they say

Tom Marquand, rider of Lake Forest 
He's backing up from what was a decent run in the Queen Anne, it was a very strong Group 1 against some of the best milers around and probably a race that wasn't quite run to suit him. Hopefully he's come out of that race well and if he puts his best foot forward he should be very competitive.

Dylan Cunha, trainer of Prague
He's in good form and has been training really well, though he would've liked a bit of rain. It's his first run of the season and he's got to give weight away because of his Group 2 penalty, but he should run a good race and I'd be over the moon if he was in the first three. He got a temperature and had that for three days, so that's why we missed the Lockinge, but he's in better form now than he was before Newbury.

Karl Burke, trainer of Lethal Levi
He's in great form and looks really well. I'm very much looking forward to seeing him run on the easy seven at York. I think that trip is what he needs now. It's a tough race and there's a few very good horses in there, but I expect him to put up a big show. I think the track and ground will suit him well.

Adam Ryan, assistant trainer of Room Service
He's very well. It was a very good race when he finished fourth at Haydock in the John of Gaunt on his first run back and he should come on for that run. He goes there in good order.

Chris Richardson, managing director to owners of Formal
She came out of the race really well and I thought we might go straight to Goodwood, but Andrew was keen to get her a bit more experience. Although it's quite a competitive race, we'll learn a bit more about her and it's an opportunity to get some further black type. Over the winter we thought she might be a Guineas horse for us, but she disappointed in a muddling race in the Fred Darling at Newbury. We were a bit perplexed with that, so it was nice to see her bounce back at Epsom and hopefully we're back on track. She's done really well since her first run this season and hopefully it's all positive.
Reporting by Liam Headd

Read more of Saturday's previews:

2.10 Newcastle: Can anyone peg back this Group 1 winner who missed Royal Ascot? Analysis and key quotes for the Chipchase Stakes 

2.55 Curragh: 'He loves the track' - who fancies his runner to land International Stakes run in memory of trainer Kevin Prendergast? 

3.00 York: 'The track should suit him and he should have a big chance' - key analysis and quotes for five-furlong Dash 

3.15 Newcastle: 'He's an unexposed stayer who could do some damage off his mark' - Who's Glen could be step ahead of handicapper in Northumberland Plate 

3.30 Curragh: Fascinating Pretty Polly in store as Kalpana attempts to concede 12lb to Oaks runner-up Whirl  

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