32Red Spring Cup Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 1m 24.07s

(2)

Albishr⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: S Dow| OR: 92| BF| D

20/1

Six starts without a victory since his winning debut over 7f at Haydock last summer but has posted two solid, second-place efforts over 1m at Kempton this winter. Something to find in this company, however.

Form: 22672-2

(4)

Bengali Boys¹⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 103| BF

7/2

Beverley debut winner who progressed to win Newbury's valuable Super Sprint in emphatic fashion on soft ground. Fourth in a Listed event at York since, he races beyond 5f for the first time today on his AW debut.

Form: 12214-

(3)

Headway¹⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 106| BF

5/4

Chester 6f maiden winner who went on to place in Ascot's Group 2 Coventry Stakes and York's Group 2 Gimcrack later on last summer. Likely to appreciate 7f and looks the one to beat given that yard have captured this twice in recent years.

Form: 21263-

(6)

Lake Volta¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97

14/1

Winner of 6f novice contests at Brighton and Ripon in August and went close in a similar 7f contest on Dundalk's polytrack surface. Fit from a recent blow-out over an inadequate 5f but probably not stable's best hope.

Form: 13336-4

(1)

Lansky^b,t1¹⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: J Noseda| OR: 102

4/1

Well related, 300,000 guineas colt who twice placed in Group company last season (6f and 7f) following a debut win at Windsor. Not overly-impressive when winning a weak novice event at Kempton last time but respected in a first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 1341-

(5)

Rufus King¹⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 99| D

6/1

Three wins on turf last season, signing off with a career-best effort to defy a mark of 97 over 7f (good) at Newmarket. Has been gelded since and remains open to progress with his yard in excellent form ahead of his return.

Form: 170561-

Forecasts

Headway (5/4), Bengali Boys (7/2), Lansky (4/1), Rufus King (6/1), Lake Volta (14/1), Albishr (20/1)

Willie Haggas has captured this race twice in the last four years and sends out another live contender in the shape of HEADWAY who went close to winning the Group 3 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot before ending the campaign with a placed effort in the Group 2 Gimcrack at York. He looks sure to relish the step up to 7f on his return and, despite the six-month absence, may just have too much class for fellow seasonal returnees Lansky and Rufus King. Runaway Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Bengali Boys is also respected as he steps up beyond 5f for the first time.