By Molly Hunter
Roger Varian’s superb early season can continue as Charyn has the potential to come out on top in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
The grey started his four-year-old campaign in fine form, landing the Listed Doncaster Mile on soft ground and then going on to take the bet365 Mile on good to soft at Sandown.
Newbury is likely to end up with a similarly slow surface, especially if forecast rain falls, and Charyn will clearly have no issue acting on it as is well proven by his record.
He has some scalps to take in Inspiral and Big Rock, both of whom hold Group One titles whereas Charyn has only placed form at the level, but the former is evidently seen to best effect on quicker ground and the latter has changed stables during his preparation.
Both factors raise questions and could leave room for the race-sharp Charyn to step up to the mark under Silvestre de Sousa.
Relief Rally can strike returned to six furlongs for the Highclere Castle Gin Carnarvon Stakes.
William Haggas’ filly was almost flawless as a juvenile, winning four of her five starts and only going down by a nose when beaten in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
Those runs, including Super Sprint and Lowther successes, were over five and six furlongs but the bay ventured to stay further when contesting the Fred Darling on her first start this term.
There she was fourth when coming home behind the subsequent 1000 Guineas winner, and now as she steps back down both in grade and in trip she looks the horse to beat on return to Newbury.
There is a good chance of a royal winner in the Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes as Desert Hero, from the same yard as Relief Rally, can carry the King and Queen’s silks to victory under Tom Marquand.
A Royal Ascot and Goodwood hero last term, the chestnut was not disgraced when third in the St Leger and made a strong start to his four-year-old season in the Gordon Richards Stakes.
There he was second when beaten only a head by Okeechobee, with subsequent Huxley Stakes second Israr behind him in third.
That form all stacks up neatly and now he is returned to his favoured trip of a mile and a half he looks the likely victor.
John and Thady Gosden’s Siyola appeals in the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes over a mile and two furlongs.
By Siyouni out of a Falmouth winner in Timepiece, she scored at the first time of asking when taking a Sandown novice in late April.
She beat stablemate Beeley by a length and a quarter, but more interestingly the horse behind them both in third was Andrew Balding’s Secret Satire.
That filly lined up on the Knavesmire for the Musidora earlier in the week to take the Group Three title by two lengths, a run that points to Siyola having plenty to offer.
Saturday racing tips
BANGOR-ON-DEE: 3.55 Iorangi de L’Isle, 4.30 Getaway Glory, 5.05 Oslo, 5.40 A Different Kind, 6.15 Fanfan du Seuil, 6.50 Churchman.
DONCASTER: 4.57 Masque of Anarchy, 5.35 Georgecandoit, 6.07 The Dragon King, 6.42 Nemov, 7.15 Educator, 7.50 Mythical Phoenix, 8.20 Blue Day, 8.50 Beach Point.
NAVAN: 1.20 Dr Ali, 1.55 Cuban Grey, 2.30 Back Down Under, 3.05 Mehman, 3.40 Gasper De Lemos, 4.15 Walnut Beach, 4.50 Gracesolution, 5.25 Naturally Nimble.
NEWBURY: 1.50 Desert Hero, 2.25 Relief Rally, 3.00 Chantilly, 3.35 CHARYN (NAP), 4.10 Wiltshire, 4.45 Talis Evolvere, 5.15 Siyola.
NEWMARKET: 1.30 Mountain Breeze, 2.05 So Logical, 2.40 Desert Cop, 3.15 Great Blasket, 3.50 Precious Jewel, 4.25 Alpen Power, 5.00 Em Jay Kay.
THIRSK: 2.00 Sands Of Dubai, 2.35 Cloud Street, 3.10 Seantrabh, 3.45 Los Toldos, 4.20 Secret Guest, 4.45 New Image, 5.30 Star Shield, 6.02 Prospect.
UTTOXETER: 5.20 Mattie Ross, 5.55 Disco Daisy, 6.30 Red Rookie, 7.03 Icare Allen, 7.33 Pilgrims King, 8.03 Thatza Dazzler, 8.33 Jasmin De Grugy.
WEXFORD: 1.40 Pallas Athene, 2.15 Game And Glory, 2.50 Chosen Shant, 3.25 Depeche Mo, 4.00 Tranquil Sea, 4.35 Summer Tide, 5.10 Fox Le Bel, 5.45 Shannon Bank.
DOUBLE: Charyn and Siyola.