Now dropped back down in grade, Sharja Bridge looks to hold leading claims of landing the spoils in the Group 3 Superior Mile on Sprint Cup day at Haydock this Saturday (14:25).
This Roger Varian trained five-year-old sports the famous yellow and black colours of owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and is lightly-raced for his age having won three of his 13 starts.
He had just three outings last season and showed improved form with each run.
Sharja Bridge saved the best for last when rounding off the campaign with a breathtaking success in the ultra-competitive 20-runner Balmoral Handicap on British Champions Day at Ascot.
Jockey James Doyle held him up at the rear and he was twice denied a run when making a move two from home.
Sharja Bridge then bravely went for a gap between rivals, and showed an explosive turn of foot to get up close home and beat Escobar by three-quarters of a length on soft ground.
It was an unbelievable run, given how the race panned out, and one which suggested he was a pattern performer in the making.
Ascot form looks rock solid for Superior Mile
That view was confirmed on return to action in May when Sharja Bridge ran out the impressive two-length winner over Red Starlight in the Listed Doncaster Mile at Town Moor.
The son of Oasis Dream backed that up with a cracking half-length second of seven to Beat The Bank in a Group 2 at Ascot.
Regal Reality, who came third, won a Group 3 next time up before finishing a fine 2 3/4 lengths third to wonder mare Enable in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
The fourth home Suedois has also gone on to land a Group 3, so that gives the form a rock solid look in relation to this lower grade affair.
This also represents a return to calmer waters for Sharja Bridge, having been far from disgraced last time out when a 5 3/4 lengths ninth of 16 to Lord Glitters in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He also has proven winning form on soft ground and a good record fresh, so looks well worth a Superior Mile wager at 9/4 with Betfred.
Tammani makes plenty of appeal Ascendant Stakes
Tammani impressed when scoring last time out, so – at 7/2 with Betway – looks decent value to follow-up in the Listed 1m Ascendant Stakes for juvenile colts and fillies (15:00).
This William Haggas trained son of Make Believe shaped with plenty of promise on debut at Newmarket when a tenderly handled 6 1/4 lengths eight of Al Madher.
The winner looks a very exciting prospect and the runner-up Al Suhail was beaten just a length when third in a group 3 at Sandown last week. Eshaashy, who came seventh, also won next time up.
It was clearly a very warm maiden and Tammani has since opened his account with a taking neck success over Riot in a 7f novice stakes contest at Sandown.
After tracking the leaders, James Doyle eased Tammani off the rail to mount a challenge two from home. He then only had to be shaken-up to assert close home and be well on top at the finish.
The pair pulled seven lengths clear of the third home Dubai Souq who has since bolted-up by 3 3/4 lengths at Wolverhampton, whilst the fourth placed Berkshire Savvy has also gone on to taste success.
That again gives the form a very solid look and, given how he finished off the race, the step up to 1m looks sure to suit Tammani. The 2020 Epsom Derby entry looks well worth a crack at this level,
With Doyle once gain in the saddle, Tammani is taken to get the better of Sesame Birah in what doesn’t look the strongest renewal of the Ascendant Stakes after the Superior Mile.
Reshoun taken to lift the Old Borough Cup again
In the 1m 6f Old Borough Cup Handicap (15:35), the Ian Williams trained Reshoun looks weighted to make a bold bid to retain his crown.
This five-year-old son of Shamardal powered home in the mud 12 months to easily beat Never Surrender by 3 1/4 lengths off a mark of 90.
He backed that up with a fine staying on 1 3/4 lengths third of 23 to Royal Line in the November Handicap on soft ground at Doncaster off 94.
Reshoun has had just four starts this year and shaped really well on the first of those when a 1 1/2 lengths third to Gumball at Sandown off 95.
He is now able to race off a reduced rating of 93 – just 3lb higher than when landing this so impressively last year.
Reshoun also comes into the race on the back of an eye-catching run on Shergar Cup day at Ascot when slowly away and not knocked about.
That was his second start back following a wind operation and he should now be spot on to do himself justice.
He looks to have been primed for this by his shrewd handler, has the soft ground that he relishes, and the assistance of Jim Criwley in the saddle who has partnered him to two successes.
Everything looks in place for a huge run, so odds of 13/2 with William Hill about Reshoun make plenty of appeal.
