St James's Palace Stakes preview: Battleground can bounce back

Without Parole won the listed Heron Stakes at Sandown before following up in the St James’s Palace Stakes in 2018, while King of Comedy was also successful in the Heron before being beaten just a neck at Royal Ascot in 2019. Both horses were trained by John Gosden, who, now training in partnership with his son Thady, will attempt to complete the same double on Tuesday with the fast-improving Mostahdaf.

Mostahdaf started odds-on when making a winning debut at Newcastle in March and has gone from strength to strength since, completing a hat-trick on his turf debut at Sandown. There was a lot to like about that performance as he was always finding enough in the closing stages, ultimately beating Highland Avenue by half a length, with the same distance back to Bullace in third. In total, the Gosden yard has won this three times since 2014 and Mostadhaf looks another leading contender with further progress on the cards.

Highland Avenue looked smart when winning a couple of races at Kempton earlier this year, and he confirmed that impression when running out a convincing winner of the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in April. He ran another fine race when second in the Heron, conceding 3 lb to the winner and possibly at a disadvantage kept to the inside in the straight. He is the type to go on improving and it would be no surprise were he to reverse that form now on level weights. Bullace was seeking a four-timer at Sandown and looked at home in that grade for much of the way, but he didn't appear to have any excuses and is seemingly held by the pair who beat him.

Poetic Flare boasts the strongest form credentials according to Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings. He showed smart form as a juvenile and made a winning return in the Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial in April. He took his form to another level when tenaciously following up in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and has been kept busy since, running below form in the French 2000 Guineas before bouncing back with a bang when a short-head second to stablemate Mac Swiney in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He should continue to give a good account but looks short enough in the betting given the potential he is up against.

Lucky Vega was a smart juvenile who won the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh and finished runner-up in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Both of those runs came at six furlongs, but he proved his stamina for a mile when beaten a neck into third behind Poetic Flare in the 2000 Guineas. The softer ground may not have been ideal when fourth in the Irish 2000 Guineas since, but he has something to find with Poetic Flare on both those runs.

Several others who finished further down the field at Newmarket could reoppose here, including the fifth-placed Chindit. He won his first three starts last year, notably the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. Not much went right for him when behind some of these in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on his final start last season, but he returned to his best when resuming winning ways in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April. He didn’t shape badly when passing the post four lengths behind the winner in the 2000 Guineas last time, finding himself too far back and on the opposite side to where the action unfolded. The return to a less undulating track will suit, but he hasn’t as much scope as some of these.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained pair of Battleground and Wembley fared even worse at Newmarket and need to bounce back. Battleground built on the promise of his debut run when winning the Chesham Stakes at this meeting last year and saw off stronger opposition in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood on his next start, but he wasn’t seen to best effect when runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He attracted strong, late support on his return in the 2000 Guineas but can have a line put through that run as he lost his action in the Dip and was not given a hard time afterwards. He was impressive at this track last season and remains a high-class prospect. Wembley, on the other hand, has serious questions to answer after following his poor showing at Newmarket with another below-par effort in the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Similar comments apply to Thunder Moon, who won the National Stakes at the Curragh (by a length and a half from Wembley) on just his second start last season but couldn’t confirm that form when third to St Mark's Basilica and Wembley in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on his next start. He proved disappointing in the parade ring (hasn’t grown much) and on the track on his return in the 2000 Guineas last month, labouring before halfway, and he has plenty to prove now.

Conclusion:

Battleground could be the way to go in a wide-open renewal of this prestigious contest. He arrives here fresher than most after not having a hard race in the 2000 Guineas, but the weight of support for him that day was telling, and this strong, lengthy colt is the type who will have even more to offer this season. Poetic Flare has been kept busy since his win in the 2000 Guineas and looks opposable at the head of the market, for all he has the best form in the book. Heron Stakes one-two Mostahdaf and Highland Avenue are a couple of potential improvers who could also have a say in proceedings.

Recommendation:

Back Battleground in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot