Lonsdale Cup second shoots for Listed glory at Newmarket.
Tom Clover's talented stayer, Al Nayyir, will take another stride forward in what promises to be a fine career when he lines up for the Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes at Newmarket. Giving a good account of himself against a top-class field when narrowly overturned at York in the Lonsdale Cup, where the really good Vauban just denied him, the Dubai Gold Cup runner-up is ready to consolidate further in the staying division.
Al Nayyir, a recent signing for Clover's Kremlin House stable, has wasted no time to declare himself a smart recruit, not least by rounding off the maiden season under his new colors with success at York on his first outing under their emblem.He was defeated by a hair's breadth in a close race over this 1m4f, and this time, his outstanding effort went a long way toward cementing his reputation as a top performer in elite staying races. Clover has entered Al Nayyir for the Listed race at Newmarket, which he will run before British Champions Day at Ascot in October.
Willie Mullins has a winner at York đź‘Ź
Vauban holds off Al Nayyir to take the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup 🏆#ITVRacing | #EborFestival | @WillieMullinsNH | @WilliamBuickX pic.twitter.com/GxB1bBwvXU
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 23, 2024
"Al Nayyar is in great nick," said Clover, who backed up his words with the horse's actual shape in the York effort. "He's trained well since that, and I'm looking forward to seeing him run again. Ideally, we'd like to avoid too much rain overnight, but overall, he's feeling good. With a bit of luck, he'll put in a big performance tomorrow." Clover feels positive that a strong showing here will leave Al Nayyir well-placed for a successful outing at Ascot, where the stakes will be even higher.
Another Ascot contender arriving is Dermot Weld-trained Harbour Wind, yet another to add to the competitive field, which includes Al Nayyar. The horse is a five-year-old who has demonstrated he can win at this level of listed winning form in the spring. The horse arrives at Newmarket following a second-place finish to Cape Of Good Hope in the Group Three Prix Gladiateur earlier this month. Harbour Wind, though, carries an added challenge in the form of a weight penalty for a Listed success earlier in the spring.
Fiona Craig, a handler at Moyglare Stud Farm, had reservations but in a positive sense about Harbour Wind, however, pointed out the added complexity. "Because he has already won a Listed race this year, he's going to have to give up weight to some strong challengers, but the ground should play to his advantage," Craig said. "We haven't had much rain in Ireland since June, and fast ground isn't ideal for him. If you run him on firm, he'll be sore the next day. This race suits him well, and if he performs strongly, we'll look at Ascot for his next target."
He would, of course, be a strong favorite with Aidan O'Brien's very strong hand in the race with his colt, Fighter, seeking his third consecutive victory, having previously effortlessly taken Curragh and Leopardstown. So, he might as well be one of the starters trying to dethrone Al Nayyir and Harbour Wind from their thrones. A distinctly wide-open Renewal contest also boasts some other classy challengers, and leading that pack is Gordon Elliott's Samui in another Irish raider, and the Race HQ ace Samui's inclusion throws the dice squarely into the melting pot.
Similarly, added to the pool is Night Sparkle of Andrew Balding following a runner-up finish in the Park Hill Stakes. Jamie Osborne's Drawn to Dream and Archie Watson's Beamish round off what promises to be an exciting lineup for the Rose Bowl. The race for Clover is a significant step towards bigger ambitions for Al Nayyir and his jockey. Perhaps the near-miss at York was far too bleak for him to stomach, but it makes him all the more exciting to watch as he seeks his next big appointment on Champions Day at Ascot. Thursday should prove the perfect springboard to an even greater test of success.
