William Hill Festival Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 2m 5.48s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

El Drama⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 112| D

4/1

Smart horse who comes here on the back of a decent spell in Meydan in the spring, eighth of 14 to Lord North in Dubai Turf last time. Much respected.

Form: 26/25-28

(5)

Francesco Clemente³⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 112| D

5/6

Well-bred son of Dubawi who took his unbeaten record to 3 in 4-runner handicap on Newmarket's July Course 10 months ago. Type to make a better 4-y-o and he's a big player.

Form: 111-

(7)

Jack Darcy¹⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Cieren Fallon| T: P & O Cole| OR: 104| D

18/1

Smart gelding but he signed off for 2022 with modest seventh in 12f Kempton listed event in November. He needs to hit the ground running on his return.

Form: 142547-

(2)

King Of Conquest²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 107

4/1

Lightly-raced 4-y-o who has taken his form up a level this season, landing big-field 9f handicaps in Bahrain and at Newmarket three weeks ago. Defied an official mark of 102 on latter occasion so he must enter calculations.

Form: 2621-11

(3)

Phantom Flight⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: James Horton| OR: 107| D

15/2

A three-time winner in 2022 and he resumed with an encouraging third of 7 to Foxes Tales in listed race at Kempton (10f) 56 days ago. Can make his presence felt.

Form: 11317-3

Non-Runners

(4)

Epic Poet¹⁹⁵

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: M Meade J: Non Runner

(6)

Imperial Fighter²²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: Hayley Turner

Forecasts

Francesco Clemente (5/6), King Of Conquest (4/1), El Drama (4/1), Phantom Flight (15/2), Epic Poet (15/2), Imperial Fighter (16/1), Jack Darcy (18/1)

FRANCESCO CLEMENTE has a ten-month absence to overcome but this imposing Dubawi colt looked a very good prospect when going unbeaten in three runs and is fancied to return in style before tackling better company. King of Conquest is another with better days ahead of him and rates the chief threat in his bid for a four-timer. El Drama also has the form to play a part in an intriguing listed contest.