‘I’ve not seen as hot a John of Gaunt’ - insight on leading contenders plus key quotes for Haydock feature

Speedy home work from Alyanaabi persuaded connections to drop him in distance this season and there are Group 1 ambitions if he can continue to shine over his new trip.

The Owen Burrows-trained four-year-old raced over as far as a mile and a quarter last season, having posted fifth-place finishes in the 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes, but was unable to win in four starts.

He had bumped into City Of Troy when last tested over the seven-furlong trip in the Dewhurst in October 2023, and a return to that distance proved the right move as he ended his drought with an impressive comeback win over course and distance in the Spring Trophy this month.

That unlocks plenty of top-tier options over the summer but he faces a classy line-up in this Group 3, notably including nine-time Group winner Kinross and last season's Lockinge winner Audience.

"It was a very encouraging win last time," said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner-breeder Shadwell Estates. "We were thrilled with that, but this looks a very hot race on paper. 

"We couldn't get him to win last year so we gave him a break and gelded him, so it was great to see him come back and win in that fashion. We were on a bit of a retrieval mission but he showed the enthusiasm and Jim Crowley has been saying he shows a lot of speed and we may have been running him a bit far last season.

"This is up in grade and we'll see if he's competitive and it opens up options after that ,such as the City of York and Maurice de Gheest."

Beckett: 'Kinross is ready'

Eight wins and another nine placings at Group level have come in the four years and two days since Kinross first confirmed himself a seven-furlong specialist in this race in 2021.

The Ralph Beckett-trained eight-year-old has done it in almost all conditions, from wins on very soft ground in France to a fine third in the Breeders' Cup Mile on a firm surface, but he has not won on his seasonal debut since getting off the mark first time out as a two-year-old in October 2019.

Kinross: makes seasonal returnCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

He was, however, beaten just a neck in third in this race on his first run of 2022 and was a close second when kicking off last season on the all-weather in the Chipchase, and Beckett insists he is ready. Victory here would take him past the £2 million mark for earnings.

Beckett said: "Kinross is ready to start. He’s been training well this spring. Ideally he could have done with more juice in the ground."

Last season's Arc-winning trainer also gives Grey's Monument his first start of the campaign. He won twice over this distance last season, including in the Listed Guisborough Stakes at Redcar.

The trainer added: "Grey’s Monument would also prefer more juice. He’s in good form and ready to start too."

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What they say

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Audience 
He ran over six furlongs in Dubai in March and ran a nice race, but he's more effective over further, as he showed when winning the Lockinge last year. He's not short on natural speed so seven furlongs is his forte, and he's pleased in his recent work.

James Tate, trainer of Mount Athos
The ground should be good, which would be right for him. He's in very good form, we've got a nice draw and a top jockey in Danny Tudhope, but the opposition is rather hot. I've not seen as hot a John of Gaunt as this, but we'll give it our best shot.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Quinault
We're happy with him but this looks a particularly strong renewal. He's run over seven furlongs before, including in this race last season. There should be plenty of pace on. I was pleased with his two runs abroad and he's come back in good form. This looks the right place to start his European campaign.

Adam Ryan, assistant trainer of Room Service and Volterra
Room Service finished off last season with a Listed win at Doncaster. He stayed on strongly over six furlongs and we've always wanted to go up to seven furlongs. We've been waiting for the ground as he wants a bit of cut, but hopefully he can progress and continue his good form. Volterra was very progressive as a three-year-old and deserves to take his chance in Group company. Hopefully he can continue to progress, and this was the logical step for him.

Ed Walker, trainer of Ten Bob Tony
We've been waiting for the ground all spring and fingers crossed there's been enough rain. He has some decent form, has been gelded since last year and runs well fresh.

Who was John of Gaunt?

John of Gaunt was the fourth son of King Edward III and the father of Henry IV. He was one of the richest men of his era and an influential figure during the reigns of both his father and his nephew Richard II.

As Duke of Lancaster, he is the founder of the royal House of Lancaster, whose members would ascend the throne after his death. His birthplace, Ghent in Flanders, then known in English as Gaunt, was the origin of his name.

His early career was spent in France and Spain fighting in the Hundred Years' War. He made an abortive attempt to enforce a claim to the Crown of Castile and for a time styled himself as King of Castile.

John of GauntCredit: Universal Images Group via Getty

When Edward the Black Prince, Gaunt's elder brother and heir-apparent to the ageing Edward III, became incapacitated owing to poor health, Gaunt assumed control of many government functions and rose to become one of the most powerful political figures in England.

He was faced with military difficulties abroad and political divisions at home, leading to tensions between Gaunt, the English Parliament and the ruling class, making him an unpopular figure for a time.

Born in 1340, he exercised great influence over the English throne during the minority rule of King Richard II and the ensuing periods of political strife. He mediated between the king and a group of rebellious nobles, which included Gaunt's own son and heir-apparent, Henry Bolingbroke.

Following Gaunt's death in 1399, his estates and titles were declared forfeit to the crown, and his son Bolingbroke, now disinherited, was branded a traitor and exiled. But Henry returned from exile shortly after to reclaim his inheritance and depose Richard. He reigned as King Henry IV of England and was the first of the descendants of John of Gaunt to hold the English throne.
Lewis Porteous

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