14:25 Newbury

Saturday 22 October 2022

All13:1513:5014:2514:5515:3016:1516:50

Virgin Bet St Simon Stakes (Registered As The St Simon Stakes) (Group 3)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 2m 43.11s

(7)

Hamish²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 117| D

8/11

Very smart gelding who resumed with stylish win in Ormonde at Chester (13.5f) in May. Excellent second to Kyprios (pair clear) in the Irish St Leger 4 months later before taking the Cumberland Lodge at Ascot 3 weeks ago. The one to beat.

Form: 147-121

(6)

Max Vega³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 105| CD

22/1

Got his head back in front when seeing off 6 rivals in the John Porter over C&D in April but has found life tougher since. Likely vulnerable under his penalty again.

Form: 2-15607

(1)

Euchen Glen²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 103| CD

14/1

Veteran who has been a tremendous servant to connections. Several creditable efforts this year and won this in 2020, but his losing run goes back a bit now and the suspicion is he'll find a few too strong again.

Form: 037326

(5)

Lone Eagle¹¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: M Meade| OR: 113

9/2

Very smart colt who was beaten by only a neck in last year's Irish Derby. Hasn't been able to reproduce that in only 3 outings since but a player if bouncing back to his best after a further 111 days off.

Form: 4125-35

(3)

Passion And Glory²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 112| D

11/2

Landed a listed event at Sandown in July and was back to form when third of 6 to Siskany in a Newmarket listed 29 days ago. Capable of going well.

Form: 085163

(4)

Skycutter³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: P A Kirby| OR: 98

66/1

Dual winner over hurdles last winter and proved better than ever back on Flat when landing a 4-runner Ripon handicap in April. Latest 6 lengths third of 5 in a 2m Newmarket listed shows he's a bit short of the level needed here, though.

Form: 04-1583

(8)

Goolwa¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 93| D

40/1

Useful filly who won a 1¾m Bath listed race last autumn. Creditable 8½ lengths third of 15 to Perfect Alibi in listed race at Yarmouth (1¾m, good to soft) 12 days ago.

Form: 461-453

(2)

Grand Alliance^p⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C Fellowes| OR: 104

16/1

Not entirely straightforward but he isn't short of ability, going very close in King Edward at Royal Ascot (1½m) despite hanging badly left in closing stages. Not in same form in the Gordon at Goodwood and Great Voltigeur at York later in the summer. Has been gelded.

Form: 120285

Forecasts

Hamish (8/11), Lone Eagle (9/2), Passion And Glory (11/2), Euchen Glen (14/1), Grand Alliance (16/1), Max Vega (22/1), Goolwa (40/1), Skycutter (66/1)

HAMISH can provide the William Haggas stable with a third win in this Group 3 since 2018. Passion And Glory is likely to give his running and that earns him the vote for the forecast ahead of Lone Eagle and Grand Alliance who are talented but need to bounce back from lesser efforts.