PERFECT POWER is fancied to book his place in the 2,000 Guineas line-up with victory in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes (3.00) at Newbury.
The Richard Fahey-saddled son of Ardad had a season to remember as two-year-old last year, following a Hamilton Park maiden score in June with a head margin in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot just eight days later.
Perfect Power didn’t get the breaks when fifth in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Royal Ascot at the end of July but made handsome amends with triumphs at the top level on his final two starts of the campaign.
Fahey took the colt to Deauville for the Prix Morny in August and, ridden by today’s jockey Christophe Soumillon for the first time, Perfect Power captured the Group 1 prize by a length and a quarter.
And he came from an unpromising position to follow up in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, overhauling Castle Star to land the spoils by half a length.
It’s open to debut whether Perfect Power’s stamina can stretch to the Rowley Mile in two weeks’ time, however he’s expected to get seven furlongs – and a winning comeback is on the cards.
Soumillon has sound claims of a big-race double, starting with THUNDEROUS for Mark and Charlie Johnston in the opening Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (1.50).
Newbury’s 1,000 Guineas trial, the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes, can go to JUMBLY.
Successful in a Leicester maiden in July of last year, the Roger and Harry Charlton-tutored daughter of Gleneagles followed up in a novice event at Kempton Park.
Jumbly lost her unbeaten record with a fourth to Hello You in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket in September.
She signed off as a juvenile with a four-and-three-quarter-length margin at Listed level over this course and distance a month later and there is more to come.
At Musselburgh, last week’s Grand National-winning trainer Emmet Mullins is the man to follow with ZERO TEN in the Betway Queen’s Cup (3.14).
The top weight, a five-time victor over obstacles still has scope for further improvement on his fifth attempt on the Flat and the booking of star claimer Benoit de la Sayette catches the eye.
Despite running down the field when tenth in the Lincoln three weeks ago, ANOTHER BATT has plenty going for him in the Betway Musselburgh Silver Arrow Handicap (2.04).
Connor Beasley’s mount features on a decent mark and will be well served by seven furlongs and give in the ground.
A 10lb drop in the handicap since the start of last season points to the chances of the Beasley-partnered DAKOTA GOLD in the Betway Holyrood Handicap (2.39).
Joe Fanning, on the mark for the Johnston team with Living Legend on Good Friday's All-Weather Finals card at Newcastle, gets the vote to lift the Betway Royal Mile Handicap (1.32) on the Middleham stable’s SPIRIT CATCHER.
