Glorious Journey ran a cracker when runner-up last time out, so is strongly fancied to go one better and land the spoils in the 7f Group 3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday (15:15).
This Charlie Applebty trained four-year-old was unbeaten in two runs as a juvenile and posted some smart efforts last year.
They included when ninth of 21 to Expert Eye in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes over this distance at Royal Ascot and when fourth to Regal Reality in a similar grade affair at Goodwood.
Glorious Journey went on to land success at this level over in France when quickening clear two furlongs from home and keeping on strongly to beat Sacred Life by a cosy two lengths.
The son of Dubawi has had just two starts this season and signalled that his time was near at Windsor last month when beaten just a length by Dream Of Dreams in the Listed 6f Hamilton Stakes.
After tracking the leader, Glorious Journey was produced to take up the running at the furlong marker and held every chance until being unable to match the winner in the closing stages.
It was a fine effort and the form has been boosted with Dream Of Dreams having since run a screamer to go down by just a head to Blue Point in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The step back up to the 7f trip of this will play to the strengths of Glorious Journey and he is also a course winner.
With Appleby operating at a strike rate of just over 27 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing, he looks to have plenty going for him.
Glorious Journey is at 100/30 with Paddy Power.
Limato feared most
The Henry Candy trained Limato has Group 1 winning form to his name and an excellent record at this venue, so looks the obvious danger.
This seven year-old has won four times and been placed on three occasions in seven starts at headquarters and, although not the force of old, still commands the utmost respect at this level.
As Limato landed a hat-trick last term, he still retains plenty of ability. He plundered a Listed event over 6f here last August when scoring by a cosy length and followed-up under a penalty at York.
Limato then defended his Group 2 Challenge Stakes crown successfully when running on well for a 1 1/4 lengths victory.
He looks sure to come on for his reappearance run when conceding a penalty to Invincible Army in a similar grade affair at York when beaten 3 1/2 lengths into third.
Limato can be backed at 11/4 with Coral.
Suedois is a tough, consistent sort trained by David O’Meara and another with claims on the pick of his form – according to our Newmarket preview for June 29.
This six-year-old doesn’t know how to run a race, so at 11/2 with William Hill looks the each-way option in the race.
Barsanti can hit the bullseye in Fred Archer
Trainer Roger Varian has his team in fine form and Barsanti looks to hold leading claims of giving him another success in the Listed 1m 4f Fred Archer Stakes (15:50).
This seven-year-old showed a smart turn of foot to land a Listed race at Ascot 13 months ago when beating Mirage Dancer by 1 3/4 lengths.
He then wasn’t disgraced when a 4 3/4 lengths fourth of five to subsequent Group 1 winner Crystal Ocean in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Barsanti has had just twp starts this season, both in Listed company, finishing third to Salouen at Ascot before posting an improved effort last time out when occupying the same spot and beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Mirage Dancer at Goodwood.
With those spins under his belt, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum son of Champ Elysees should now be fully tuned to do himself justice.
As he is a strong traveller with a useful turn of foot, this small four-runner field should also play to the strengths of Barsanti.
With ground conditions ideal, and the in-form David Egan in the saddle, Barsanti looks to have been found a nice opening to bag a sixth career success.
Our Newmarket preview for June 29 puts Barsanti up at 15/8 with Betway to do just that.
Summer Romance fancied to blossom in opener
The Godolphin owned Summer Romance created a huge impression when winning on debut.
So, at 11/8 with 888Sport, she looks a worthy favourite to take the step up into Listed company in her stride and follow-up in the 6f Empress Fillies’ Stakes that gets proceedings underway (14:05).
That victory came in a four-runner affair at Yarmouth earlier this month where the beautifully bred daughter of Kingman was backed off the boards and sent off the 8/13 favourite.
Her supporters never had an anxious moment as Summer Romance travelled ominously well throughout on the heels of the leaders, before being switched right at the furlong marker and bursting clear to beat Brededbury by two lengths.
She quickened instantly when asked to and scored with any amount in hand. It was a performance which suggested Summer Romance had a big future ahead of her.
The form has also been given a boost with the runner-up having since come out and bolted up by 3 1/2 lengths at Brighton.
Summer Romance is currently a top-price 33/1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas on the back of that very taking display and this looks a nice stepping stone en route to bigger and better things.
She is also rangy sort with bags of scope for improvement and looks a potential top notch performer in the making.
That meant Summer Romance simply had to be the Empress choice in this Newmarket preview for June 29.
