'We're hoping to use this as a springboard to have a pop at a nice race' - who rates his chances in the Listed Magnolia Stakes?

Dubai Honour landed this Listed race 12 months ago before winning Group 1 events in France and Australia.

Last year’s Kempton runner-up Okeechobee reappears following a 360-day layoff which came after his only subsequent outing of 2024, a head success over Desert Hero in Sandown’s Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes.

Although clearly not easy to train, the six-year-old is considered to retain Group 1 potential – he holds an entry in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh next month – and this looks an excellent starting point.

Military Order, another with conspicuously low mileage, was 9-2 joint-second favourite for the 2023 Derby won by Auguste Rodin. He ran no sort of race that day and his only victory since was achieved in the Group 3 Winter Derby at Southwell in February 2024. A mature betting market is likely to provide the best guide to his fitness after a 379-day absence.

There are no such concerns with last month’s Rosebery Handicap winner Teumessias Fox, who produced a career best in beating Ambiente Amigo by a length and a quarter. The downside is he has so far failed to cut any ice in Listed or Group 3 company.

Checkandchallenge, a Group 3 and dual Listed winner, is likely to have improved in fitness for his reappearance second to Dancing Gemini in the Doncaster Mile. Although no match for the winner, the fact he could be backed at 33-1 five minutes before off-time suggests he needed that run badly.

He is unbeaten in two starts on the all-weather in 2021 and 2022 and is likely to give a good account, but this is a race which principally revolves around the readiness of Okeechobee.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

What they say

George Boughey, trainer of Botanical
He's in good order. He had a nice comeback run at Doncaster behind Dancing Gemini on ground that was probably too lively. His one run at Kempton in a novice was a good effort and I look forward to seeing him back up to ten furlongs.

William Knight, trainer of Checkandchallenge
I'm very happy with him and it's his first time back on the all-weather since he was a three-year-old at Newcastle, but we know he acts on it. We know it's a tight race, but he's a better horse and he's training better this year. I think he can put in a good performance.

Checkandchallenge: talented horse for William KnightCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Military Order
He's coming into this on the back of a long layoff. He wintered in Dubai and has done very well of late. His all-weather form is probably his best form, and we were aiming to return to the surface. He'll come forward for the run but goes here in good shape and hopefully we can get him back to the level of his Winter Derby win.

Harry Charlton, trainer of Okeechobee
He's in good nick and I'm looking forward to getting him going again. He's a class horse. He's only had six runs, but whenever he does run he normally runs his best race. I could have run him in the Gordon Richards, but having had a year off it made sense to run on a flat track. We're hoping to use this as a springboard to have a pop at a nice race.
Reporting by Liam Headd

Read more...

2.35 Plumpton: Could Paul Nicholls upset the Skelton v Mullins Plumpton battle with Sans Bruit? Analysis and quotes for Sussex Champion Chase 

3.50 Fairyhouse: 'She seems in great form and will love the rain' - thoughts from connections for an intriguing Grade 2 at Fairyhouse 

4.20 Fairyhouse: No Fact To File, no problem for Heart Wood? - Cheltenham Festival runner-up bids for Grade 2 success 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.