Grosvenor Sport Celebration Mile Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 1m 38.89s

(5)

Hathal^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: P Cosgrave| T: W J Haggas| OR: 112| D

11/2

Winner of a Group 3 contest over 1m at Haydock (soft) on his seasonal debut last season but managed just one start thereafter. Finished third on both outings this term and drops back in trip having run over an extended 1m2f last time.

Form: 21/18-33

(3)

Lightning Spear²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D M Simcock| OR: 117| CD

1/1

Winner of this race in 2016 and subsequently finished third in a Group 1 contest at Ascot in the autumn. Raced exclusively at the highest level this season and ran well when finishing 1L third over C&D last time out. Likely to prove hard to beat.

Form: 13-2973

(2)

Oh This Is Us²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 108| C| D

8/1

Running well in the spring winning a handicap at Bath and a 7f Listed contest at Haydock (good). Struggled since placing in a Group 3 at Epsom (good) in June and more needed here.

Form: 121380

(6)

Opal Tiara⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J F Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 107| C

28/1

Successful over 1m1f in a Group 2 contest at Meydan (good) in February but disappointing in the main since. Well held last of seven in a fillies Group 1 at Newmarket (good-to-firm) last time and others make more appeal here.

Form: 104207

(4)

Richard Pankhurst⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 114

7/1

Victorious over 7f in a Group 2 event at Newbury (good-to-firm) a year ago but held in two subsequent runs and beaten 21L when last of eight on seasonal debut at Newmarket last month.

Form: 50156-8

(1)

Zonderland³⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 112| D

9/2

Unraced so far this season but successful in a Salisbury (good-to-firm) Group 3 contest last August and ran well when finishing runner-up to Lightning Spear in this race later that month. One for the shortlist in this contest.

Form: 5/61812-

Forecasts

Lightning Spear (1/1), Zonderland (9/2), Hathal (11/2), Richard Pankhurst (7/1), Oh This Is Us (8/1), Opal Tiara (28/1)

LIGHTNING SPEAR ran out the winner of this race 12 months ago and he put in his best effort since when beaten 1L on soft ground here last time out. The selection seems to save his best for this course and is taken to get the better of Hathal who drops back to this trip having finished a decent third over further last time out. Last years runner-up Zonderland can claim third on his return to this track.