13:30 Newbury

Saturday 22 April 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:55

Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Registered As The John Porter Stakes) (Group 3)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 2m 45.57s

(2)

Max Vega¹⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 110| CD

4/1

Took this event 12 months ago and signed off for 2022 with success in St Simon Stakes over C&D by head from Hamish. Much respected.

Form: 156071-

(4)

Farhan¹⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P A Kirby| OR: 97| D

40/1

Progressive 3-y-o for John Butler who landed big-field handicap at York Ebor meeting in August. Changed hands for 150,000 gns but below-par 10th on yard debut in Doncaster's November Handicap. Faces no easy return here.

Form: 1/45180-

(1)

Grand Alliance^p¹⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: C Fellowes| OR: 103

18/1

Smart gelding who wasn't disgraced after being gelded when 4½ lengths third of 8 to Max Vega in St Simon Stakes at this C&D. Off 6 months but not ruled out.

Form: 202853-

(6)

Hurricane Lane²⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 120| C| D

6/4

Irish Derby and St Leger winner but only twice raced last term and off the track since beating only one in Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July. Remains the one to beat though on his return with yard among the winners.

Form: 1113/38-

(8)

Lone Eagle^b1¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: R M Beckett| OR: 110

15/2

Very smart colt at his best for Martyn Meade who was second in 2021 Irish Derby. Hasn't been able to reproduce that form since though so resumes with something to prove for his new yard. Blinkers on 1st time.

Form: 125/357-

(3)

Mojo Star³¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: R Hannon| OR: 118| CD

18/5

Runner-up in the Derby/St Leger in 2021 and he posted a cracking effort on his sole start last term when second again in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Hugely respected on his return for his in-form yard.

Form: 25120/2-

(5)

Surrey Mist³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: K P De Foy| OR: 104| D

17/2

Has taken his form up a level for his new stable, scoring twice last October, and he recorded an excellent fourth in Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud (9.9f, soft) on his return. This is no easy ask, however.

Form: 74011-4

Non-Runners

(7)

Israr¹⁶⁸

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: J & T Gosden J: Jim Crowley

Forecasts

Hurricane Lane (6/4), Mojo Star (18/5), Max Vega (4/1), Israr (6/1), Lone Eagle (15/2), Surrey Mist (17/2), Grand Alliance (18/1), Farhan (40/1)

The returning duo HURRICANE LANE and Mojo Star possess much the best form on offer here and Charlie Appleby's former St Leger hero can again hold sway having got the better of Richard Hannon's smart gelding at Doncaster back in 2021. Israr is likely to take a step forward this season and can fight it out for minor honours along with last year's victor Max Vega.