Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes Guide 2023

The John & Thady Gosden runner in the Group Three this weekend is Israr, who will be the ride of Benoit De La Sayette. The four-year-old made his return to the track after a 58-day break early last month when finishing sixth of seven on the all-weather behind Bay Bridge at Kempton.

A return to the turf and a mile four will bring out more improvement, as he was last seen over the distance beating Adayar by over four lengths in the G2 Prince of Wales’s Stakes. He’s incredibly consistent over the distance, and is a certain runner on the shortlist.

William Haggas won the 2022 edition of this race, and he is represented by Al Aasy this weekend. The six-year-old will be the ride of Jim Crowley, and he comes into the Group Three after running a huge race behind Adelaide River over a mile and four when a close second in the G3 Paddy Power Stakes.

Al Aasy was a winner over course and distance last year, beating Mandoob by two lengths in the Buckhounds Stakes. A bold bid from the six-year-old is incredibly likely this weekend.

The in-form Karl Burke stable will be represented by Al Qareem this weekend. Clifford Lee will take the ride on the four-year-old, who was last seen winning over a mile and four at Chester, beating Bluestocking by a neck in the Stand Cup Stakes.

That was a fine return to action after a 175-day break, and he holds fine claims over this distance. He was the winner in handicap company at York over this trip last term, and his recent return run is encouraging evidence to suggest that he is a major player this weekend.

The runner of Jane Chapple-Hyam this weekend is Claymore, who will be the ride of Neil Callan. The four-year-old was last seen finishing 49 lengths behind Hukum in the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes after a 306-day break.

He steps up in trip this weekend, but was a fine winner at Ascot last year when beating Reach For The Moon by nearly two lengths in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes. However, a response will be required this weekend.

Ten-year-old Euchen Glen represents the Jim Goldie stable this weekend. Paul Mulrennan will take the ride on the oldest horse in the field.

He produced a season-best effort on his previous start, finishing second by a head to Thundering in handicap company. He steps back up to a mile and four for the first time since finishing eleven or 13 at Haydock in July. He’s obviously vulnerable in this company.

Fortino will be the ride of Rossa Ryan this weekend. The John & Thady Gosden-runner was well beaten on his racecourse debut in the UK last month, finishing last of seven and over 18 lengths behind Bay Bridge on the all-weather at Kempton.

He was a prolific winner in South America before that, but it remains a question how strong his seven wins in eleven starts in stakes company in Chile is.

Tom Marquand takes the ride on L’Astronome for trainer Hugo Palmer this weekend. The four-year-old was third behind Al Qareem in the Stand Cup Stakes on his latest start, which was also his first for Palmer.

However, he could be one that out-runs his odds after showing excellent form over the distance in France last term when finishing five lengths behind Onesto in Group 1 company.

Postileo will be the ride of Jack Mitchell this weekend for trainer Roger Varian. The six-year-old has plenty to find on ratings this weekend, but he was a winner over a mile and four on his latest start at Hamilton.

On that occasion, he finished over three lengths ahead of Paddy The Squire. But, the six-year-old could find a couple too good on his debut in stakes company.