Horse Racing: Redwood ready to shine at Newmarket after 103-day hiatus

Redwood can return from a lengthy break refreshed and ready for action in the Princess of Wales's sportingbet.com Stakes, the highlight of day one of Newmarket's July meeting. Barry Hills' charge has only raced once so far this season, but he showed he is a quality performer when second to Rewilding in the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March.

He raced a bit too eagerly early on that day, but showed plenty of guts to run on in the final furlong and only go down by just over three lengths to the subsequent Prince of Wales's winner.

That was the latest in a succession of excellent efforts from Redwood at the highest level, with the five-year-old having claimed second in the Hong Kong Vase on his final start last term.

Redwood is obviously a horse who enjoys travelling, but he can also show up well on these shores - a point he proved with a creditable second in this race last year.

While he has not run for 103 days, that is not a major negative as he has previously run well off a break, and Redwood must surely be one for the shortlist on what is a slight dip in class.