GROUP THREE JOHN OF GAUNT STAKES 2022

Ralph Beckett’s five year old has proven himself as an out and out 7 furlong horse as of late and took this race in fine fashion last season.

Tested at between 6 furlongs and 9 furlongs throughout his career, Kinross managed to score at listed level over a mile but has failed to be competitive at higher grades over any further.

His career best outings have comes over 7 furlongs, notably taking this race last year and then the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood to beat Creative Force narrowly.

He’s not quite managed to make his presence felt in group 1 company but this race looks tailor made for him. The one to beat.

A very lightly raced 5 year old for the Gosdens, Sunray Major made quite the impression with a dazzling debut but he failed to win again as a 3 year old.

Given a hefty break he returned to racing in fine form and captured a novice event easily before making a mockery of a mark of 95 in a handicap. Both over 7 furlongs.

More recently tried over a mile, he’s been beaten in some deep contests this season. Coming 5th in the bet365 Mile and the 6th in the Lockinge Stakes. Dropping in class and trip should help and he looks a likely threat to the favourite.

Andrew Balding’s charge has won over as far as a mile but has always looked most at home over 7 furlongs. Having a great run of form in 2020 to capture a conditions race, a group 3 and a group 2 in succession.

He hasn’t been able to uphold that same kind of form since however and had a winless season last year, despite running well behind Kinross at Goodwood.

Sticking to 7 furlongs this season has seen him fare well. Narrowly beaten in a listed race on the all weather, he put in a fine effort to score handsomely at Leicester last time out at listed level. He does need to prove he can step up in grade here.

Unable to win as a 2 year old, Spycatcher finally got off the mark on his first attempt as a 3 year old.

He, rounded out that season with a strong run of form, winning a conditions race and a listed event over 6 furlongs. The latter coming on the all-weather back in February.

Narrowly beaten over 6 furlongs in a conditions race, he was last seen going close group 2 company behind Highfield Princess. He shaped like 7 furlongs will now suit and off the back of a career best he needs to be taken seriously.

Despite showing some real promise on debut as a 2 year old and winning a maiden stylishly, Laneqash has failed to win since.

Going close in listed company immediately after, he hated deep ground on his last outing as a juvenile and finished last of 12 in a group 3 race.

Last season he was only seen three times and ran with credit in each. Narrowly being beaten by Sacred in a group 2, he then put in some solid efforts in other group races but failed to get seriously involved.

He’s been gelded since last seen so it remains to be seen if that brings on the improvement necessary to get his head back in front.

Pogo has struggled to find his optimum trip. In the early parts of his career, he garnered success from handicap company over 7 furlongs to a mile.

He managed to make the transition to listed company with a devastating display over a mile and scored at listed level again last year.

He’s been tried over as afar as 10 furlongs but failed to stay the longer trip. This season he’s spent time over in Dubai but was well outclassed in deep races.

Back on English soil he should fare better. Not to be dismissed likely.

A smart looking 2 year old who failed to transition up into stronger contests. Being gelded didn’t immediately spark a revival in his fortunes but a move to Tom Dascombe did bring about a change in fortunes.

He quickly racked up a hat trick of handicap wins but failed to step up to listed level thereafter.

He’s only one once since when scoring in handicap company on the all-weather over 7 furlongs. Last seen being well beaten in listed company here at Haydock, it’s hard to see him making the move up to group 3 level here successfully.

A recruit from South Africa for Jane Chapple-Hyam, he had some smart form over in South Africa scoring group races and running well in group 1 company.

His move over to England hasn’t generated immediate success however. Running over 9 furlongs on his first outing he finished last of 7 in group 3 company. Dropped to listed level and a mile thereafter, he struggled again and finished last of only 4 runners. Well beaten.

He fared best over a mile in South Africa so is worth this drop in trip but has to show he has the quality to be involved.