Gosden’s Eagle to land at Newbury
The Pivotal colt was originally declared for both this Group Three event and the Listed Doonside Cup at Ayr, but trainer John Gosden has confirmed he will be in action at Newbury.
Eagle Top will be enjoying a significant drop in class in a race registered as the ‘Arc Trial’ after going down a nose to Postponed in a pulsating renewal of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July.
The four-year-old will be looking to earn himself a shot at either the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp or the Champion Stakes at Ascot next month.
Gosden said: “He will run at Newbury. I’ve never doubly declared a horse before in my life, but the horse needs to run and I didn’t want to be stuck with nowhere to go.”
The Corsican makes his first appearance since being touched off in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood in late July.
Trainer David Simcock reports his four-year-old to be in rude health, but expects Eagle Top to be difficult to beat.
He said: “He had a break after his rather unlucky run at Goodwood, he’s in very good order and I’m very happy with him.
“We’re taking on a very good horse in Eagle Top, so I’m hopeful rather than very hopeful.”
Ooty Hill is a fascinating contender for trainer Roger Charlton and owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer.
The winner of a Newmarket maiden on his only start at two, the Dubawi colt chased home subsequent French Oaks heroine Star Of Seville in a Newbury conditions race in April and has been on the sidelines since. Charlton said: “Ooty Hill had a setback and hasn’t run since April.
“I would expect him to need this race but we want to get him back on track as soon as we can.
“There are several horses in the race currently with better form than him and expectations are not high.”
Godolphin’s Sky Hunter has an even longer absence to overcome, having been off the track since winning a Group Two at Meydan in early March.
Last year’s winner Hillstar and the William Haggas-trained Battalion complete the field.
