Market vibes suggest Frankel colt Mirage Dancer has big chance

3.05 Royal AscotHampton Court Stakes | Group 3 | 1m2f | 3yo | ITV/RUK

Mirage Dancer needs to improve upon his Dee Stakes fourth in order to trouble rivals with solid Classic form, but the market suggests he is going to, and it's not hard to see why.

A twice-raced colt by Frankel out of the dual Bobby Frankel-trained Grade 1 winner Heat Haze, he got going late to justify strong support in a Doncaster maiden on debut last autumn and was under consideration for the Derby when he finished a somewhat luckless fourth behind subsequent Epsom runner-up Cliffs Of Moher at Chester.

He is a type with whom Sir Michael Stoute excels and goes to post with a 3lb higher official mark than the stable's 2014 winner Cannock Chase, despite having less experience.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, is optimistic and said: "Mirage Dancer was eyecatching at Chester, where he didn't get a great run through the race, but finished well.

"That sort of run can be misleading, and he's still quite an immature horse, but we think he's an improving horse, which of course he'll need to be. We still think he has considerable potential."

Three solid chances for Godolphin

Godolphin can look back on a successful Royal Ascot whatever happens here, but with Benbatl, Bay Of Poets and Tamleek all among the first half dozen or so in the betting, this looks another good opportunity in a race they took 12 months ago with subsequent Coral-Eclipse winner Hawkbill.

Strong-finishing Derby fifth Benbatl, placed previously in the Craven and Dante, goes without the hood that possibly contributed to him switching off too much in the early stages at Epsom.

Bay Of Poets has paid for finishing only seventh when he was given his Classic chance in the Prix du Jockey Club as he was gelded immediately afterwards. Chester Vase fourth Tamleek drops back in trip.

Saeed Bin Suroor gives both of his a chance and said: "Benbatl ran a big race at Epsom and his latest piece of work went well. This distance will suit but we'd ideally prefer some ease in the ground.

"Tamleek won well at Newmarket at the start of the season and has been in good form since his run at Chester. Stepping back down to ten furlongs will help and he's in good form."

Charlie Appleby said: "We were delighted with Bay Of Poets’ first two runs this season in Derby trials and we weren’t overly disappointed with his performance in the Prix du Jockey Club. We felt there may be a chance of improvement in him, so we decided to have him gelded following that run."

Halford leads Irish challenge

For once the Irish challenge isn't focused on Aidan O'Brien, who won two of the first four runnings, but on Michael Halford, who saddles Irishcorrespondent.

Though no match for Churchill or Thunder Snow in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, there was plenty of merit in his seven-length third, and Halford soon nominated this race as an ideal interim target for the strapping Teofilo colt before he hopefully steps back into the top grade.

Halford, who struck for the first time at the meeting with Portage in last year's Hunt Cup, said: "He's really well and travelled over well. I think the step up in trip will suit and although the ground will be faster than he's raced on I think he'll handle it."

What the others say

John Ryan, trainer of Grey Britain
He's been trained for this and it's no stab in the dark. Although he won over the straight mile at Newmarket, the longer trip round a bend will suit him on this faster ground, and we've got a great jockey in Gerald Mosse.

Eve Johnson Houghton, trainer of Jake's Hill
It's a big ask but he's a very promising horse and we'll know where we are after this. With luck he'll run a really nice race.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Larchmont Lad
He was a bit disappointing in the Craven and the Guineas, then dropped back in grade last time and should have won. He followed the wrong horse up the middle of the track. He appeared to be doing his best work late on so we're trying him over this longer trip. He's been in really great form at home and if he does get home, he should run a nice race.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Mucho Applause
It's a big step up in class but it was pretty solid form last time and I think he has the class and quality to get involved, though I'm slightly concerned about the ground.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Orderofthegarter and Taj Mahal
Both of them ran well in the Prix du Jockey Club and came out of the race well. It will be the fastest ground they've raced on this year but we hope and think they'll handle it.

Ian Williams, trainer of Speedo Boy
He's a nice horse and ran a blinder when second to Permian, giving him weight, at Newmarket. He should appreciate the trip and I'm quite excited about running him.