HIGH HOPES FOR BAPAK CHINTA

Kevin Ryan returns to the scene of his first major victory as he unleashes Bapak Chinta in Saturday's Emaar Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

It was in this race in 2005 that Amadeus Wolf gave the Hambleton-based trainer a breakthrough Group One, which was quickly followed in the same season by Palace Episode in the Racing Post Trophy.

Bapak Chinta started his career in what could have appeared a moderate maiden at Hamilton but it turned out to be an outstanding one, as he beat subsequent Royal Ascot winner Frederick Engels by three lengths.

Ryan's colt went on to Royal success in the Norfolk Stakes but has not been seen since, having knocked himself during light exercise when being prepared for the Nunthorpe at York.

"He's very well and will love the ground. He didn't miss too much time out and he goes into the race in great form," said Ryan.

Caspar Netscher and Alan McCabe attempt to continue what has already been an unforgettable season.

The juvenile has run eight times so far, but broke what was becoming a frustrating run of placed efforts when capturing the Gimcrack Stakes at York.

Newbury's Mill Reef Stakes followed and now the final leap to Group One level awaits.

"He looks well, he's been keeping to his old routine, and there's no difference now from when he won the Gimcrack and Mill Reef," said McCabe.

"We were concerned about the rain before the Gimcrack but Robert (Winston) said he did it very easy that day and he held his form in the Mill Reef.

"We haven't changed anything, we keep him to his routine and he's the same, if not better than he has been all year."

Family One, trained by former jockey Yann Barberot, has won four times this season including the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte.

He was beaten three lengths into second by Dabirsim last time in the Prix Morny, with the winner going on to take the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last weekend.

Champion trainer Richard Hannon goes for more glory with Lilbourne Lad, who finished just over two lengths behind Caspar Netscher at York.

"We have supplemented Lilbourne Lad for the Middle Park, and he is such a tough horse that it would be no surprise if he finished in the three," the trainer told www.richardhannonracing.tv.

"He is actually rated 111, so is officially our second best two-year-old colt at the moment, behind only Harbour Watch, and, though Caspar Netscher beat us fair and square in the Gimcrack, we have a 3lb pull, so he deserves another shot at a Group One."

Ed Dunlop's Burwaaz was fourth to Bapak Chinta in the Norfolk Stakes, third in the Gimcrack and second to Requinto in both the Flying Childers and Molecomb Stakes.

Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "He's been knocking on the door and my own feeling is that we've probably made a bit of a mistake with the horse running him over five furlongs because he has plenty of speed.

"I personally think now that he's a horse who would be better given a bit of a chance and finishing over six furlongs.

"He's the sort of horse who one day is going to win a big race - whether it's tomorrow, I don't know."

George Margarson runs Rebellious Guest, the mount of Tom Queally.

"He's won two of his three starts, the only blip coming in the Coventry Stakes, which I think came a bit too soon for him, and we did think there was a risk of that," the jockey told his Racing UK blog.

"He won his last race at Windsor decisively and, while this is a massive jump in class, we think he is ready for the challenge.

"He's a colt who is highly rated by George and I've ridden him in his work recently and he feels like a good sort to me, but we'll all be wiser after the event."

Posted in: News,Tips