Mullins out to bag further sterling with Stratum in new £100,000 stayers' clash

2.25 Newbury
JLT Cup (Handicap) | Class 2 | 2m½f | ITV3/RUK

A month after scooping the main staying handicap at Royal Ascot, Willie Mullins is back in Berkshire in a bid to repeat the feat at Newbury in the first running of this £100,000 2m handicap, part of an enhanced programme for stayers.

The inaugural event has attracted 18 declarations, including the Mullins-trained Stratum, who was third to stablemate Lagostovegas in the Ascot Stakes last time.

Formerly a decent Flat handicapper for John Gosden, the son of Dansili won on his hurdles debut for Mullins in September and then placed twice.

Returned to the Flat at Royal Ascot, Stratum was doing all his best work at the finish over two and a half miles, so should have no problem dropping back in trip for this assignment, in which he wears a hood for the first time.

He is owned by Brighton FC chairman Tony 'the Lizard' Bloom, who teamed up with Mullins to win the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham with Penhill, and also has Melbourne Cup favourite Withhold with Roger Charlton.

Mullins said: "He ran a very good race when third in the Ascot Stakes and a bit of improvement should put him in with a very good chance."

The importance of the draw

Almoghared sneaks into the bottom of the weights on 8st 6lb and even though the trip is more than two miles, John Gosden is equally pleased with his draw.

He said: "The stalls are right in front of the stands over this trip so our draw in four is better than those in the high numbers out wide, I would imagine, as that first bend comes at them pretty quickly."

The son of Dansili has the best form in the book having finished fourth to subsequent Group 1 winner Kew Gardens when last seen in the Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.

One of two runners for Hamdan Al Maktoum, Almoghared is the only three-year-old in the field.

Gosden added: "He's a genuine horse who should get the trip and if they get any of this rain from across the channel it would help him."

Cheekpieces a positive?

Sheikh Hamdan's other runner – and first string on jockey bookings – is the Owen Burrows-trained Quloob, who is making only his second start of the season and will be fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.

The four-year-old was returning from a near ten-month layoff when fifth to another of the runners here, Amazing Red, at Newmarket last month but is 9lb better off this time, with Amazing Red shouldering an extra 6lb for his win.

Angus Gold, racing manager to the owner, said: "He's no star but is entitled to have come on for his first run back and this year was always going to be his year."

Will the heat affect Sir Chauvelin?

Jim Goldie is so concerned about in-transit temperatures affecting Sir Chauvelin's chances that he sent the six-year-old down from his Ayrshire base on Thursday afternoon.

Sir Chauvelin certainly knows all about travel as he is running just a week after an unlucky tenth behind stablemate Euchen Glen in the John Smith's Cup at York.

Goldie said: "The travel is a bit of a concern and we sent him overnight into Friday as a precaution. He had a wet rug on and has cooling fans on him, but if it's 30C outside it's tough going.

"Hopefully he's there in plenty of time to freshen up, and we fancy him to run a big race."

What they say

Iain Jardine, trainer of Nakeeta
It's taken him a wee while to get over the trip he had to Australia last year but he ran better than his placing would suggest in the Northumberland Plate and hopefully he can step up again.

Ed Dunlop, trainer of Amazing Red
He won very well at Newmarket but then disappointed at Newcastle, where he may well not have been in love with the surface. He's come out of that in good shape and hopefully we can pick up some prize-money.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Newlands
We didn't previously think he wanted to go this far but he's just a galloper and hopefully can pick up some prize-money.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Buzz
Hopefully it will rain to help his chances, otherwise I may take him out.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Cleonte
He's done well for being gelded over the winter and ran a nice race at Royal Ascot. Hopefully he'll be competitive, and he goes on any ground.

Simon Crisford, trainer of Percy's Word
He ran well on his comeback to be second on the all-weather but this is a step up in class.

Alan King, trainer of Coeur De Lion
He'd have won in one more stride at Newbury's April meeting, and ran well again to finish sixth in the Ascot Stakes. He came from well off the pace at Ascot and should be competitive in what, understandably, is a hot handicap for the money.

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