Benbaun sights set on Ascot double-header

Prix de l’Abbaye winner Benbaun is gearing up for another tilt at a potential Royal Ascot double-header, starting with next Tuesday’s King’s Stand Stakes.

Trainer Mark Wallace was considering trying the King’s Stand and then Saturday’s Golden Jubilee Stakes last year but his stable star failed to perform to his best on the Tuesday.

He picked up again when returning to the track in September before lifting the Longchamp Group One and started off his season satisfactorily with fifth in the Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly.

“He goes for the King’s Stand and depending how he gets on there, we’ll think about the Jubilee,” said Wallace.

“He could well run in both, but it depends how he is.

“It was a good run at Chantilly but he came back with a slightly sore foot, so we kept an eye on him and he seems fine now. That run should have put him spot-on for Ascot.”

Benbaun is the 8-1 general third-favourite for the King’s Stand and a best-priced 16-1 with Ladbrokes for the Golden Jubilee.