14:25 Newbury

Saturday 20 May 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:18

Al Rayyan Stakes (Registered As The Aston Park Stakes) (Group 3)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 2m 32.33s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(7)

Bolshoi Ballet²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110

10/1

2021 Belmont Derby winner who has been seen just twice since his 3-y-o days, shaping well enough behind promising staying stablemate at Navan 4 weeks ago. Needs to build on that back in trip.

Form: 4469/4-3

(1)

Gaassee^t²⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 103| BF| D

17/2

Got up a 4-timer in 1½m handicap at the Dante meeting last season before a fine third in the Old Newton Cup. Well-beaten favourite in the Ebor final start and has been gelded. Retains potential over this trip and no surprise if he had more to offer in 2023.

Form: 111/130-

(4)

Israr¹⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 106| BF| C| D

7/1

Smart colt who was third in the King George V Handicap last summer and looked a good prospect when bagging Doncaster event in October. Disappointing favourite in November Handicap there after but should bounce back and could be set for a good year, well worth his place at this level.

Form: 313310-

(6)

Kemari^p⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 109

12/1

2021 Queen's Vase winner who has run plenty of good races since, including in Meydan Group 2 over this trip 11 weeks ago. Not dismissed back on these shores

Form: 4226-42

(2)

Old Harrovian⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 94| D

7/1

Much improved from debut (after an absence) when scoring at Lingfield, then made a fine impression when following up emphatically in a novice at Wolverhampton, again over this trip. Needs to prove he's as effective on turf upped markedly in class, but there's further progress on the cards if he is.

Form: 7-11

(5)

Yibir^h³¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 119| C| D

9/4

High-class performer who signed off for 2022 with victory in the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket. Set for another good campaign and strong claims on these terms.

Form: 11/2231-

(3)

Haskoy^t1²⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: L Dettori| T: R M Beckett| OR: 109| D

5/2

Won her first 2 starts last summer in Wolverhampton novice and listed fillies' event at York before a fine effort in the St Leger under Dettori (still rough around the edges, finished second, demoted to fourth for causing interference). Tongue tied for return and should have more to offer.

Form: 11D-

Forecasts

Yibir (9/4), Haskoy (5/2), Israr (7/1), Old Harrovian (7/1), Gaassee (17/2), Bolshoi Ballet (10/1), Kemari (12/1)

YIBIR has been a globe-trotting money-spinner for Godolphin and looks set for another profitable campaign. Unpenalised for his Group 2 Newmarket win when last seen in July, he can make a successful return. 4-y-o filly Haskoy was second past the post in the St Leger and could have more to offer in 2023. Israr and Gaassee are also ones to follow this year.