TRUESHAN TO STRIKE ON SAGARO RETURN

By Josh Luckhurst

Trueshan can shine at Ascot again as he begins his season in the Longines Sagaro Stakes.

The eight-year-old is a popular presence in the staying division with multiple Group titles under his belt, including three editions of the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup over the Sagaro course and distance.

Alan King’s gelding is seen to best effect on soft ground and is therefore at the peak of his powers at either end of the season when the rain has been falling.

He was fourth in this event on good to soft last term when beaten by Coltrane, but a wet winter has left conditions more to his liking this time and he is proven to go well fresh.

Amy Murphy’s Rock Hunter makes his British debut in the Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes and looks to have a real chance.

The Expert Eye colt has run once at Chantilly, winning a five-furlong Chantilly maiden on heavy ground by a comfortable three lengths earlier this month – an outing that should stand him in good stead at Ascot.

In the Listed Bet With Ascot Donation Scheme Paradise Stakes, it is Simon and Ed Crisford’s Quaddwah who catches the eye, a four-year-old Kingman colt who made two starts last season.

Both were successes, and after taking a Salisbury novice and a Newmarket contest, a clutch of horses behind him on both occasions were subsequent winners to solidify the form.

Andrew Balding’s Purosangue can come out on top in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes.

The Aclaim colt had a productive juvenile season, finishing the runner up in the Molecomb, the Roses Stakes and the Harry Rosebery before claiming a well-deserved Listed win in the Rockingham.

Since then the form from those prior runs has worked out very positively, with Molecomb winner Big Evs going on to land the Flying Childers and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, Roses winner Inquisitively landing the Cornwallis and Rockingham runner-up Esquire since winning the Greenham.

There is an interesting contender in the Darley British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes in Charlie Appleby’s Diamond Rain, a Shamardal filly out of the Oaks winner Dancing Rain who makes her debut in the race.

The Punchestown Festival continues and Galopin Des Champs is the big draw ahead of the Punchestown Gold Cup.

Willie Mullins’ dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was turned over by Fastorslow in this contest last season, but he seems to have gone from strength to strength this year and is very much the one to beat.

Elsewhere on the card, the same stable have a promising runner in the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race as Jasmin De Vaux looks to uphold his unbeaten status.

The gelding is a point-to-point winner who prevailed on his bumper debut before taking the Grade One Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.

Off the back of that run he looks the key threat when rounding off his National Hunt Flat campaign under Patrick Mullins.