Two days after his full-brother Wings of Desire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) entered centre stage on the Knavesmire, Lady Bamford's Eagle Top (GB) bids to regain some of the family limelight in Saturday's G3 Al Rayyan S. at Newbury, better known as the Aston Park S., which is enjoying enhanced status as a group race for the first time. Nosed out of victory in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II S. by Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Ascot in July, the homebred tailed off afterwards with a third in the G3 Arc Trial over 11 furlongs in September and a tame 15th placing in the Longchamp feature itself. Provided the ground is not too soft, the 5-year-old is likely to be primed for the Royal meeting next month, and his owner-breeder's racing manager Hugo Lascelles is hoping for a fresh start. “I think he had a bit of bad luck last year. He was only beaten a nose in the King George but then he mystified us at Newbury and ran below-par in the Arc,” he explained. “The horse is on a bit of a comeback mission. He is working nicely at home, but this is not his D-Day, as we are looking at the [G2] Hardwicke S. back at Ascot [June 18] later on for him. John [Gosden] will look at the ground before deciding if he will run or not. If he doesn't, I think there is a race at Goodwood that might suit him next week.”
Another on a retrieval mission is Mohamed Obaida's Star Storm (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who was disappointing even allowing for needing the race when 16 lengths fifth of six in Newmarket's G2 Jockey Club S. Apr. 30. That showing was a far cry from his impressive winning display in Ascot's G3 Cumberland Lodge S. in October, but trainer James Fanshawe is unfazed. “He came out of his run at Newmarket well and I think he should come on for that,” he said. “I'm not sure what the ground will be like by Saturday, but he handles soft ground.”
Although her form is a touch removed from the proven performers in here, St Albans Bloodstock's rapidly-progressive filly Carnachy (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) looked one to follow whatever the grade when upstaging her smart stablemate Bateel (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Listed Daisy Warwick S. over this trip at Goodwood on her 4-year-old bow Apr. 30.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
