Cape Verdi can cement her position as winter favourite for the 1,000 Guineas with victory in the Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket today. A re-run of York's Lowther Stakes is on the cards with the first four home on the Knavesmire renewing rivalry in today's six-furlong Group One.
Cape Verdi won the Lowther by a short head from Embassy with Nadwah a length and a half away in third. Miss Zafonic was fourth three lengths further back.
Embassy and Nadwah had to concede 3lb to their rivals that day but will re-oppose at level weights at Headquarters.
However, Peter Chapple-Hyam is not worried about Cape Verdi taking on Embassy again despite the unfavourable terms.
"I'm not worried about the 3lb weight difference with Embassy. We need good fast ground. It was far too soft at York," he said.
And with the ground currently described as good to firm the Manton filly will have conditions to suit.
Prior to her York effort the daughter of Caerleon ran extremely well to run top juvenile Central Park to one and a half lengths in Royal Ascot's Chesham Stakes.
Although bred to stay further, Cape Verdi possesses an impressive turn of foot, which she used to good effect when finishing fast at York, and is napped to give her trainer a timely boost following the disappointment of Revoque on Saturday.
The Irish challenge is represented by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Heeremandi, who ran a disappointing fourth behind Tarascon in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes. Michael Kinane rides for the powerful Ballydoyle stable.
Tamarisk created a favourable impression when romping away with an 11-runner conditions event at Kempton last time out, handing Greek Dance a six-length beating.
And this Green Desert colt can continue his rapid upward spiral of form by landing the £25,000added Tattersalls Houghton Sales Conditions Stakes.
From a decent French family, Roger Charlton's charge has not yet had to knuckle down to do battle but he may prove to be too good here for any sort of fight to even be necessary.
Following a below par effort at Newbury last time, Hajr can return to winning form in the NGK Spark Plugs Rated Stakes.
Successful in a Newbury maiden and Newmarket handicap, Ed Dunlop's three-year-old ran arguably his best race when a two and half length second of 15 to leading Cambridgeshire fancy Labeq over 10 furlongs on a return visit to the July Course.
Possibly unsuited by softer ground last time, Hajr looks well worth another chance on his first attempt at a mile and a half.
Trainer Brian Meehan has been unable to find any physical reason for the poor performance of Tumbleweed Ridge who finished a tailed off last in the Tote Festival Handicap at Ascot on Saturday. "He's fine. There's nothing wrong at all," said Meehan yesterday.
