Abernant Stakes Guide

Trainer - Kevin Ryan

Jockey - Tom Eaves

The top weighted and horse with the best credentials coming into the contest for his seasonal debut is the seven year old Brando.

This gelding has the most experience and more wins at the top level in six furlong events than any other runner in the field, with his stand out run coming in the Group 1 Prix Maurice at Deauville.

He is known for running well in defeat finishing in the places in many top Group 1 events in his career. However, with this race he has made it his own over the last few years winning the last two renewals of this contest and having a great chance to land the hat-trick.

Trainer - John Gosden

Jockey - James Doyle

This Godolphin owned five year old came alive to racing last summer and was set to have a big career winning three ordinary races and then was a massive gamble at Royal in the Wokingham Stakes and could only finish a narrow second out of 23 runners.

From there he has been stepped up to Group 1 company and has not been able to cope with it, but with the horse still holding a lot of potentially, this could just be his season.

Trainer - Charles Hills

Jockey - Ryan Moore

This Prince Abdullah owned colt ran to a fair standard in some good contests last season and is one of the few horses in this race that has already had his seasonal debut meaning he will be fit and won't need the run.

Even with that however, he will need to give a career best to be involved if the stars of the field are on song but already having a run does give him a slight advantage.

Trainer - Hugo Palmer

Jockey - Jason Watson

This six year old won the Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood last year off top weight which was a remarkable achievement but since then has not been at the same standard.

Since being stepped up to hotter contests like Listed and Group company he has not been able to cope and off the back of those runs he will have had to come on a bunch to get involved in this field.

Trainer - Stuart Williams

Jockey - Adam Kirby

This seven year old has had two runs this year after being off since February 2018, both coming on the all weather and both being very different type of runs.

His first run in January was a really positive return landing a Class 2 at Kempton over six furlongs. Next time out was the opposite when finishing last at Wolves in a Listed contest over slightly further.

This drop in trip will suit but will have to give a career best to be involved off the back of his lack of experience at this level.

Trainer - Tim Pinfield

Jockey - Martin Dwyer

The outsider of the field and perhaps rightfully so. Only having five runs in his career and none of them have come at this Group 3 level which suggests he would need a miracle to land the spoils.

He started his career off nicely over six furlongs at Windsor and Newmarket but since going on the all weather has not taken to it and the return to turf will be suited but it is still tough to se him getting involved.

Trainer - David O'Meara

Jockey - Daniel Tudhope

The penultimate runner in the field is another horse that it would be a surprise for if it did go on to win. Time's Arrow is having his stable debut for David O'Meara after previously being based in France.

This five year old has not ran since September and will have to be fresh to be involved with a strong field on his first run on British turf.

Trainer - Richard Hannon

Jockey - Jim Crowley

The final runner of the contest is the Hamdan Al Maktoum owned Yafta who had a break through season last year when running really well over 6/7 furlongs.

His biggest win was at Newbury in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes, beating a decent field of runners over Wednesday's trip and if replicating that will be in the mix.

He is higher in the handicap than last season but if wintering well should go well on his first run of the season and could be one to watch at this level throughout the season.