By Ashley Iveson
Shartash has been revitalised since joining Archie Watson and can make his Group One breakthrough in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on the final day of Royal Ascot.
He was smart two-year-old for Johnny Murtagh, winning the 2022 Railway Stakes, he appeared to lose his way last year.
He would not be the first three-year-old sprinter to struggle against the older horses, though, and he was sold for €150,000 last September.
Making his first start for Watson in a conditions race at Thirsk, he bolted up, beating subsequent Victoria Cup second Ramazan and Holloway Boy, a Royal Ascot-winning juvenile who ran a cracker in Wednesday’s Royal Hunt Cup.
Next time out Shartash was in Listed company over seven furlongs and he won again, beating a couple of solid yardsticks in Pogo and Witch Hunter.
A stiff six furlongs looks ideal and in a race with no standout, he can make the step up.
Haatem and River Tiber will have plenty of supporters in the Jersey Stakes but preference is for the latter.
Both finished behind impressive St James’s Palace scorer Rosallion in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, with Haatem coming home a head behind the winner but a length and a quarter in front of River Tiber.
However, that was River Tiber’s first start for 238 days while Haatem had the benefit of two previous runs, so Aidan O’Brien’s runner should improve for the outing and looks the more likely of the two to benefit from a drop back to seven furlongs.
Continuous looks a very short price in the Hardwicke Stakes given O’Brien’s recent comments about him needing a run.
With that in mind, a chance is taken on the outsider Elegant Man.
The key to this horse might be the fast ground, but we simply do not know quite how good he could be yet.
He nearly won a Listed race on just his second outing against multiple Group One winner Rebel’s Romance and his victory at Newcastle on All-Weather Finals Day promised plenty.
On his turf debut he may have been outclassed behind White Birch and Auguste Rodin, but connections are adamant the ground beat him and given they trained the third, Crypto Force, who they do not believe to be in the same league, there could be something in that. In any case, the first two are very smart.
O’Brien’s Bedtime Story has a curious pedigree, being by Frankel and out of the rapid sprinter Mecca’s Angel.
She looked a strong stayer when beating an odds-on stable companion on her debut over an extended seven furlongs.
With that experience under her belt, she should take some beating in the Chesham Stakes, although Appleby’s Age Of Gold should keep her honest.
Clive Cox’s Harry Three catches the eye in the Wokingham.
Following two years off the track, he made a very pleasing return to action when fourth in a Listed race at Salisbury.
Prior to that he was last seen in competitive action in the Group One Sprint Cup at Haydock when not disgraced in seventh behind Minzaal.
That form stands out in this company and a mark of 104 could underestimate him.
Harry Charlton is a chip off the old block when it comes to late developing three-year-olds and it looks like he has another in Hand Of God in the Golden Gates Stakes.
An easy winner on his third start last year, he has been kept back for this since making all in the Esher Cup at Sandown and the step up in trip should suit.
The closing Queen Alexandra Stakes can go to Emmet Mullins’ Postileo, with James Doyle an eyecatching booking.
Saturday racing tips
AYR: 4.10 Eve’s Boy, 4.45 Jordan Electrics, 5.25 Eminent Jewel, 5.55 Iron Lion, 6.25 Beautiful Diamond, 6.55 Black Friday, 7.25 Rainwater, 7.55 Going Underground.
DOWN ROYAL: 2.05 Presence, 2.40 Chopsticks, 3.15 Hasna, 3.55 Psalm, 4.30 Charlie Luciano, 5.10 Lily Hart, 5.45 Nucky Johnson.
HAYDOCK: 6.05 My Dream World, 6.40 Love Wars, 7.10 King Of Angels, 7.45 Dora Milaje, 8.15 Middlesex, 8.45 Hat Toss.
LIMERICK: 1.40 Pink Oxalis, 2.15 Hemight, 2.50 September Leaves, 3.25 On Our Radar, 4.05 London City, 4.40 Gangster Granny, 5.20 Master Dunraven.
LINGFIELD: 6.00 Charlie’s Choice, 6.30 Pledge Of Honour, 7.00 Three Dons, 7.30 Star Allure, 8.00 Sense Of Spirit, 8.30 Run Joy Run, 9.00 Five Winds.
NEWMARKET: 1.35 Kynsa, 2.10 Hidden Secret, 2.45 Miss Bodacious, 3.20 Kilt, 4.00 Al Simmo, 4.35 Hiya Honey, 5.15 Lunar Shadow.
REDCAR: 1.45 Sonic Blue, 2.20 Airspeed, 2.55 Chatty, 3.30 Gultari, 4.15 Tatterstall, 4.55 Good Point, 5.30 Red Force One.
ROYAL ASCOT: 2.30 Bedtime Story, 3.05 Elegant Man, 3.45 Shartash, 4.25 River Tiber, 5.05 Harry Three, 5.40 HAND OF GOD (NAP), 6.15 Postileo.
DOUBLE: Shartash and Hand Of God