Badminton returns at Ascot

Godolphin are double-handed in the Miles And Morrison October Stakes at Ascot tomorrow, with Badminton looking the team’s strongest contender.

The three-year-old is making her seasonal reappearance, having been a smart juvenile for Clive Brittain last year.

After winning a Doncaster maiden on her debut, she found the top-class Carry On Katie too good in her other two outings, most notably when finishing third to Jeremy Noseda’s filly in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

“Badminton was not right for some time but has been back in training for a while,” said trainer Saeed Bin Suroor on www.godolphin.com.

“She’s working well but this is her first run for a long time and she will improve for the race.”

Pearl Grey is Suroor’s other entrant in the seven furlong contest, and she also boasted good Pattern form as a two-year-old.

The grey daughter of Gone West finished second to Attraction in the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket when trained by David Loder and had her first run this term at Chester earlier in the month, finishing a close third to Simianna.

“Pearl Grey has been working and training really good. I think she has a chance,” added Suroor.