'He's in great shape' - Godolphin globetrotter bids to regain the winning thread in tricky Listed contest

We saw the restorative powers of John and Thady Gosden when Lead Artist roared back to form in the Lockinge, and Peace Man bids to achieve something similar in this Listed race.

Comparisons between the two horses can be drawn. Lead Artist finished last of eight in Sandown’s bet365 Mile on his comeback and Peace Man failed to beat a rival on his reappearance in the Gordon Richards on that card. A superior performance should be forthcoming, although he has hung left-handed on his past four starts and might benefit from some form of headgear. 

Improvement is required to repel Liberty Lane, who holds Peace Man on last season’s Darley Stakes form. The forecast rain will suit this soft-ground lover.

The last time Liberty Lane encountered that terrain he ran away with the Cambridgeshire off top weight, recording a decent time in the process. 

Liberty Lane: runs at Goodwood on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Conditions would have been fast enough for him on his last start in Chester’s Huxley Stakes, yet his finishing effort was promising given his track position off a modest early gallop. A return to prominent tactics can see him in a better light.

Slower ground and a 7lb penalty are reasons to oppose Silver Knott, a beaten odds-on favourite at Newmarket this month whose best efforts have been overseas. 

Four-year-old Meydaan, who landed the Cocked Hat here a year ago, is the youngest horse in the field and will appreciate the return to this trip after getting caught for speed over a mile at Ascot in April. That should have brought him on, while Exoplanet can also step forward from a bright stable debut for Archie Watson at Kempton following a 669-day absence.

Exoplanet looks a superb recruit at only 18,000gns, and his unlucky second in the 2023 Hampton Court two starts back for Roger Varian, when a wayward rival shunted him out wide, is noteworthy form.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

Going update

It was good, good to soft in places on Thursday. The track has not been watered since Tuesday and the forecast is for dry and sunny weather, with temperatures reaching 17C.

What they say

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Silver Knott
He's in great shape and the drop back to a mile and a quarter won’t be a negative. He carries a penalty, but he’s a very consistent horse and I’m sure he'll run his usual solid race.

Archie Watson, trainer of Exoplanet
He ran very well at Kempton in the Magnolia on his first start for us in what was a very strong Listed race. That was his first start in almost two years so he's entitled to come on for it. I've been very happy with him at home. This race has been the plan and I hope he can run another very good race.

Archie Watson: "This race has been the plan and I hope he can run another very good race."Credit: Patrick McCann

Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, owners of Jeff Koons
He's a firm favourite for the team having won the Qatar Derby and Faleh [Bughenaim] is back on board. It's a tough task on ratings, but Hamad [Al Jehani] is happy and keen to get him back on a nice track. We're looking forward to seeing him back.

William Knight, trainer of Sir Busker
He'll go well. He'll really appreciate the ground down there and he steps up to a mile and a quarter. He's not getting any younger, but he still retains his ability and desire for racing, so he's got a good each-way chance.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

Chris Cook's three things to note

1 Wintle seeks to contine top run of form at Bath

Adrian Wintle's fine form continued on Wednesday when Sioux Warrior scored at Brighton, taking the Gloucestershire trainer to six winners on the Flat this month, a personal best. 

He sends three to Bath, of which the veteran Savalas makes most appeal in a sprint handicap (2.50). The grey ruined his chance at the same track last week by anticipating the start, so that he was rocking back as the stalls opened, but he had shown promise in his previous two runs. He scored over this course and distance in each of the last two years and might again be first to reach the lollipop.

2 Loughnane rides Godolphin debutant related to Shadow Of Light

Charlie Appleby has his two-year-olds in great shape, having won with six of his first ten juvenile runners this season. He sends the well-related Wild Desert to Haydock for a 7f novice contest (3.35) with Billy Loughnane booked. The colt is a Too Darn Hot half-brother to Shadow Of Light, who did the Middle Park- Dewhurst double last year, and Earthlight, another Middle Park hero as well as landing the Morny.

3 Carlyle Square bids to build on handicap debut promise

Having been sixth at the furlong pole, Carlyle Square rattled home to be beaten just a neck at Doncaster three weeks ago, when Julie Camacho's filly was making her handicap debut. It was a distinct improvement on her previous form and she's easy to like for a 1m2f contest (5.17) at the end of Haydock's card. A stronger early pace would help but she should know more.

Read these next:

3.00 Haydock: Royal Ascot heroine faces unexposed rivals in Listed sprint - but will this key race throw up the winner for a third straight year? 

6.55 Curragh: Ryan Moore takes sole ride on the card in intriguing Gallinule Stakes  

7.25 Curragh: 'Of my three he's training the best' - will this competitive sprint handicap produce another shock after last year's 100-1 winner?  

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