RACING: Alcazar has not been without his problems during his racing career, but trainer Hughie Morrison's patience can finally pay off in the Group Three Bovis Homes Sagaro Stakes at Ascot today.
The eight-year-old has been limited to just two runs since 1998 after suffering a variety of injuries including a fractured pelvis and tendon troubles.
Despite some long absences though, Alcazar seems to have lost none of his ability, a point which was proven last time when he returned from a 556-day lay-off to take a Listed event at Nottingham.
The Sony Victoria Cup (Showcase Handicap) is always a competitive race and Shanook can land this year's renewal. Mark Johnston's four-year-old looks to be the sort to improve having had just the five runs so far in his career. The son of Rainbow Quest proved his abilities when winning a moderate seven-furlong event at Catterick on his reappearance in March.
Meanwhile, Richard Hills will miss the Newmarket Classics even though his 21-day suspension for failing to ride out to the line was cut on appeal to 12 days by the Jockey Club yesterday.
He was due to partner the fancied pair Muqbil in the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas on Saturday and Khulood in the 1,000 Guineas the following day for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, but will instead be out of action from May 1st to 13th. Willie Supple is now set to step in for the mounts.
Champion jockey Kieren Fallon has confirmed he will be on Michael Stoute's Russian Rhythm with Jimmy Fortune booked for stable companion Hector's Girl. "Both fillies need top of the ground and if it rained you'd be in trouble," warned Fallon.
Olivier Peslier has been booked to ride Lundy's Lane for Clive Brittain in the 2,000 Guineas while Philip Robinson will be on stablemate Wimple in the 1,000 Guineas.
On the betting front Aidan O'Brien's Hold That Tiger remains completely friendless in ante-post exchanges on the 2,000 Guineas for which he is 2 to 1 favourite, although Coral report continued support for his stablemate Tomahawk at 10 to 1.
