Morando and Young Rascal set to lock horns again in exciting St Simon

2.20 Newbury
Teddington RBL Poppy Appeal Stakes (registered as the St Simon Stakes) (Group 3) | 1m4f | 3yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Young Rascal and Morando fought out a dead-heat finish to last year’s St Simon Stakes and both line up again with connections hoping to keep the spoils to themselves this time.

Morando started the season in flying fashion with an eight-length romp over last week's Long Distance Cup winner Kew Gardens at Chester but struggled in higher class in the summer.

Back to Group 3 company, he was second in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury and then returned to winning form in a big way with a six-length victory in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot this month.

Trainer Andrew Balding said: "Morando seems in good form. He’s had a great season and obviously won the race last year. Hopefully he'll run well again."

Having won four of his five runs last year, Young Rascal failed to fire in two starts early this season and was gelded over the summer. He returns here after a near six-month layoff and trainer William Haggas is hopeful of a better showing by the four-year-old.

"His attitude and manner have improved greatly since being gelded – whether his ability has improved we’ll find out. I think he’ll handle the ground, although it might be taxing on his fitness," he said.

Meehan bullish about Appin's ability

Spirit Of Appin has been a consistent improver for Brian Meehan this season and landed a Group 3 success on her latest start in the Group 3 Muhaarar Stakes at Newmarket.

The four-year-old kicks off a big afternoon for Meehan, who also runs Sound Of Cannons in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and the trainer is bullish about his filly’s prospects.

Spirit Of Appin wins the Muhaarar Stakes at Newmarket last monthCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

“She has a great chance – she’s done nothing but improve all season," said Meehan. "I thought her performance at York when third in the Galtres Stakes was her best to date, until she turned up at Newmarket and bettered that.

"For me, she has really strong claims. The ground is a bit of an unknown but she should be fine on it.”

Royal Line looking to strike under Dettori

Royal Line scooped ‘best of the rest’ honours in the Long Distance Cup behind Kew Gardens and Stradivarius last week and there is plenty to like about the John Gosden-trained five-year-old.

He has won his last three starts over this 1m4f trip and has been successful on soft and heavy ground. Frankie Dettori comes in for the ride, the first time he has teamed up with the son of Dubawi since this meeting two years ago.

King's Advice goes for a first Pattern-race success at NewburyCredit: Alan Crowhurst

King’s Advice bids to return to winning ways for Mark Johnston after struggling in the Ebor and being beaten a neck by Weekender at Salisbury last month, while Ralph Beckett’s Manuela De Vega will attempt to get her head in front for the first time this season having finished second in three of her six runs.

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