Twilight Son can take the step up from handicaps to the highest level in his stride with victory in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.
His trainer Henry Candy is one of the shrewdest operators in the game and is not known for overfacing his horses, so if he believes the three-year-old is ready for a Group One at this fledgling stage of his career, the hint should be taken.
Given Cheveley Park Stud bought into Twilight Son as a potential stallion prospect and lesser targets have been mentioned, it seems telling that they are keen to go for gold in this.
For a Group One race, it is wide open, the favourite Adaay was last seen winning over seven furlongs, Danzeno has displayed several quirks in the past, while Magical Memory is obviously improving fast having won the Stewards’ Cup but was over two lengths behind the selection at York and meets him on slightly worse terms.
The biggest danger could be Gordon Lord Byron, who has won the race and been second twice in the last three years.
Sovereign Debt should be tough to beat in the Group Three Betfred.com Superior Mile.
The Dandy Nicholls-trained grey has held his form remarkably well and the step back up in trip can help him return to winning ways in what looks a relatively weak race for the grade.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Dartmouth is on a steep upward curve and can take the Appletiser Handicap at Ascot before stepping into Group company.
Sixth of 17 in the King George V Handicap at the Royal meeting, since then he was won at Ascot, beating Space Age who the King George, and then easily defying a 6lb higher mark at Goodwood. He is nearly a stone higher in the weights now, but Olivier Peslier had to overcome plenty of trouble in running last time out and he looks the archetypal Stoute improver.
Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs should have no trouble in winning the totescoop6 September Stakes at Kempton.
John Gosden’s three-year-old found only stablemate Golden Horn too good in the Derby at Epsom, yet looked to have improved immeasurably for that experience when slamming Storm The Stars at the Curragh.
While this would be an unusual path to the Arc, he could emerge as the biggest threat to Treve next month.
