Ribchester and Harry Angel hard acts to follow in competitive Group 2

2.50 Newbury
Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes | Group 2 | 6f | 2yo

The last two winners of this race have since proved to be out of the very top drawer, although they had a total of three previous runs between them and, perhaps even more surprisingly, both were maidens.

Plenty of the runners here have good form in and around the top two-year-olds seen out so far, led by Invincible Army.

Saeed Manana's son of Invincible Spirit finished just behind Cardsharp, Havana Grey and Sands Of Mali on three tries at Group level before returning to the winner's circle with an easy Listed success at Kempton last time.

"He has come out of his win in the Sirenia Stakes really well so I would like to think he has a favourite's chance," said trainer James Tate.

"I think that might have been a bit of a step forward. We sat a little bit closer and the surface suited him a little bet better, so I think he got home a little bit better. What we have been trying to avoid is soft ground because he has a lot of natural speed."

Can Staxton or Nebo improve on their Gimcrack showing behind Invincible Army?

Nebo (yellow cap) pushed Gustav Klimt all the way in the Superlative Stakes but scoped dirty after disappointing at YorCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nebo was only just run out of a Group 2 success in the July Stakes at Newmarket by the last thrust of Gustav Klimt but then ran no sort of race when finishing three and a half lengths behind Invincible Army at York.

"He scoped dirty after running in the Gimcrack at York but has been on two courses of medication since and is now clean," said Charlie Hills. "He's one of the top-rated horses entered on 109, which can be good enough to win a race like this."

Staxton finished one place and a length and a half in front of Nebo in the Gimcrack but his case rests on trainer Tim Easterby's belief that he remains open to further improvement on what will be only his second start in Pattern company.

Easterby said: "He's in very good form and was due to run at Ayr on Friday so we have rerouted him to Newbury. He is a very nice horse and he should run well. The quicker ground shouldn't be a problem."

Can Garfield provide a belated wedding present for Scott?

George Scott openly confesses he has yet to fully get over James Garfield going down by just a nose to Wells Farhh Go in the Acomb Stakes over seven furlongs at York, a race in which the reopposing Lansky finished back in third on only his second start.

Having also run well over the same trip when fourth behind 2,000 Guineas favourite Expert Eye in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, the Exceed And Excel colt now drops down a furlong.

"I think the rain at York was a big factor," said Scott. "He has got a lot of fast ground in his pedigree and we nearly took him out ahead of the Acomb. This will be much more to his liking and he has plenty of speed, having finished third in the Windsor Castle."

A win for James Garfield would seal a memorable week for Scott after marrying Polly, the daughter of the colt's owner/breeder Bill Gredley.

Where are the other dangers?

Jim Crowley returns in triumph on EnjazaatCredit: David Carr

Owen Burrows runs Enjazaat, who has two good runs to his name and looked to be getting the hang of things when comfortably landing the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Ripon last time out.

Owner Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manager Angus Gold said: "He travelled much better when he won at Ripon the other day. He is a funny horse because he ran no race first time and then ran well, before performing terribly on the July course and then winning well the other day. But he has always worked like a nice horse at home."

Clive Cox will want the sun to keep shining for Grand Koonta after the colt missed the Champagne Stakes seven days ago on account of underfoot conditions, his third withdrawal since finishing eighth in the July Stakes at Newmarket.

"We have been a bit unlucky in that the ground has been a bit too easy for him on a couple of occasions over the last six weeks," said Cox. "This race is obviously very hotly contested, but Grand Koonta is a horse we like a lot and it looks like the ground is going to be in his favour."

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