Canford Hills could run on Sat?

Canford Cliffs could meet Morny nemesis Arcano


CANFORD CLIFFS could meet his Prix Morny conqueror Arcano when he goes on the trial for the StanJames.com 2,000 Guineas after both were on Monday engaged in the Bathwick Tyres Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The winner of Royal Ascot's Coventry Stakes, 5-1 second favourite with the sponsors to capture the colts' Classic, was among ten entries for the 7f race which is also set to feature Richard Hannon-trained stablemate Dick Turpin.

Neither Canford Cliffs nor Arcano have raced since they met at Deauville which the Brian Meehan-trained colt won by a neck and short neck, the pair split by subsequent Cheveley Park Stakes winner Special Duty.


Plans for Arcano have still to be decided with owner Sheikh Hamdan Al-Maktoum yet to determine whether he should start the campaign in a trial but the owner also has Markazzi and Khattaab engaged in the race.

Sheikh Hamdan has two entries in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes [Fred Darling], Royal Ascot winner Habaayib and Oaks entry Eldalil, which attracted 16 entries. These are headed by Cheveley Park Stakes third and Lowther Stakes winner Lady Of The Desert, a stablemate of Arcano.

Purple Moon, who hasn't raced since suffering a narrow defeat in last year's Dubai Sheema Classic, is the star turn in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes, better known as the John Porter Stakes, which has 18 entries in all.

Purple Moon was due to run in Dubai this winter but returned home with a foot abscess. The race is also a target for Harbinger, a one time Classic contender who ended lastseason with a third place in the St Simon Stakes.

Seems like the flat UK season starts in full this weekend?

I'm not a big fan of English racing but after Sea the Stars last year I'm now a convert and love watching the stuff!!!

Roll on UK flat racing!

St Nicholas Abbey (tu) Tommy?

I watched him winning the Racing Post at the end of last year and he seemed all legs and quite tall. If he has grown into himself and filled out a little there is no telling how good he might be. Looking forward to watching him run too!

I'm sure the Dubai Sheiks have a few boms, plus Aiden's arsenal and all the rest!

Gonna be a humdinger!!!

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Newmarket on wednesday is the place to be!

Special Duty to go for Guineas despite trial loss


ANXIOUS backers of StanJames.com 1,000 Guineas favourite Special Duty received a much-needed boost on Monday when trainer Criquette Head-Maarek announced that last season’s star juvenile filly would run at Newmarket and seek to erase the memory of last week’s trial defeat.

Plans for the winner of the Electrolux Cheveley Park Stakes had been put on hold after she went down by a length to Joanna and Evading Tempete on her seasonal reappearance in Thursday’s Group 3 Prix Imprudence, for which she had started an odds-on favourite.



However, Head-Maarek told racingpost.com on Monday: “There is no change of plan and we are going for the Guineas. The filly came out of the race really well and needed the outing. She will come on a lot for the race."

Special Duty is 9-2 market leader for the Newmarket Classic on May 2 with the sponsors.

I own Canford's grandam who just had a colt by Monsun.

Lucky Man (tu)