3 minute read
Aidan O'Brien's charge bidding to go one better than at Royal Ascot.
Aidan O'Brien's charge had no luck in running when a well-beaten eighth in the French Guineas on his season reappearance and quickly proved himself capable of competing at the top level as a three-year-old when going down by a neck to Rosallion in the St James's Palace Stakes.
With Ascot conqueror Rosallion ruled out on Tuesday morning due to a respiratory infection, Henry Longfellow is now the general even-money favourite to get back to winning ways under Ryan Moore.
Moore told Betfair: "There are only six runners, but all have their chance. The official ratings tell us that there is only 2lb between four, so it's a tight contest from a form perspective, and I am hoping that my colt comes forward again from his narrow defeat by Rosallion at Royal Ascot. He comes here in good shape, so we are hopeful, if not confident."
Standing in his way will be 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech, who arrives having flopped when only seventh behind the absent Rosallion and Henry Longfellow in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"I don't know (what happened at Royal Ascot)," said Appleby. "You could say he had four runs going into the St James's Palace whereas some of those other colts had just had their first run in the Guineas."
"We were very pleased with his work going into it but subsequently on the day he didn't turn up. What I can guarantee everyone now is his work going into this has been great and he looks great. I think it's a track that will suit him, as a rule, it will suit a speed horse and if he turns up with the speed that we saw in the Guineas, then he ticks every box."
Jerome Reynier's Dubai Turf hero is next in the market as he bids to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, while William Haggas has opted to fit his talented yet fragile five-year-old with first-time blinkers. Ralph Beckett's Sonny Liston completes the field of five.