Twilight Son gunning for Group One prize

Jack Hobbs, the Irish Derby winner, races at Kempton today. Picture: Getty

TWILIGHT Son can take the step up from handicaps to the highest level in his stride with victory in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.

His trainer, Henry Candy, is one of the shrewdest operators in the game and is not known for targeting his horses too highly, so, if he believes the three-year-old is ready for a Group One at this fledgling stage of his career, the hint should be taken.

Given Cheveley Park Stud bought into Twilight Son as a potential stallion prospect and lesser targets have been mentioned, it seems telling that they are keen to go for gold in this.

For a Group One race it is wide open, the favourite Adaay was last seen winning over seven furlongs, Danzeno has displayed several quirks in the past, while Magical Memory is obviously improving fast, having won the Stewards’ Cup but was over two lengths behind the selection at York and meets him on slightly worse terms. The biggest danger could be Gordon Lord Byron, who has won the race and been second twice in the last three years.

Ivawood can bounce back to form in the Group Three Betfred.com Superior Mile. The Richard Hannon-trained horse finished third in the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas, but was a significant disappointment in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. He then endured a troublesome passage in the six-and-a-half-furlong Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on August 9.

Hannon has stepped him back up in trip at Haydock and connections expect a good run.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Dartmouth is on a steep upward curve and can take the Appletiser Handicap at Ascot before stepping into Group company.

Sixth of 17 in the King George V Handicap at the Royal meeting, since then he was won at Ascot, beating Space Age, who won the King George, and then easily defying a 6lb higher mark at Goodwood. He is nearly a stone higher in the weights now, but Olivier Peslier had to overcome plenty of trouble in running last time out and he looks the archetypal Stoute improver.

Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs should have no trouble in winning the totescoop6 September Stakes at Kempton. John Gosden’s three-year-old found only stablemate Golden Horn too good in the Derby at Epsom, yet looked to have improved for that experience when slamming Storm The Stars at the Curragh. While this would be an unusual path to the Arc, he could emerge as the biggest threat to Treve next month.

David O’Meara’s All About Time is improving with each run and should be tough to beat in Thirsk’s Hambleton Cup Handicap.

GLENDALE

Ascot

1:40 Satish

2:15 Dawn Of Hope

2:50 Mr Win

3:25 Dartmouth

4:00 Fang

4.35 Highland Acclaim

5:10 Wee Jean

5:40 Munfallet

Haydock

2:00 Ivawood (nap)

2:35 Aramist

3:10 Fast Track

3:45 Twilight Son (nap)

4:20 Baltic Raider

4:55 Foundation

5:30 Rhythmical

Kempton

1:45 Jack Hobbs

2:20 Si Senor

2:55 Gold Trade

3:30 Cranach

4:05 Rouleau

4:40 All For The Best

5:15 Fruity

5:45 New Strategy.

Stratford

2:05 Kyles Faith

2:40 Russian Bolero

3:15 Agenor

3:50 Kie

4:25 Laudatory

5:00 Zama Zama

5:35 Nicely Indeed

Thirsk

1:55 Tafteesh

2:30 Dusky Raider

3:05 Bay Mirage

3:40 Puissant

4:15 Mon Brav

4:50 Amazing Charm

5:25 All About Time

5:55 Landing Night

Wolverhampton

5:30 Marital

6:00 Anna Dolce

6:30 Next Life

7:00 Newmarch

7:30 Rum Swizzle

8:00 King Toru

8:30 Pressure

9:00 Depth Charge.

Double

Twilight Son

3:45 Haydock

Ivawood

2:00 Haydock

Sunday

Fontwell

2:20 Antony

2:50 Mountainside

3:25 Top Chief

3:55 Mantou

4:30 Vering

5.00 Titch Strider

5:30 Tara Potter

York

2:00 Arcanada

2:30 Distain

3:00 Fort Del Oro (nap)

3:35 Gracious John

4:05 Hot Spice

4:40 The Tin Man

5:10 Grand Meister

Double

Fort Del Oro

3:00 York

Distain

2:30 York