Can Gosden rule again in Quebec Stakes with two leading chances?

Saturday: 3.33 Lingfield
BetUK Quebec Stakes (Listed Race) | 1m2f | 3yo+ | ITV4/Sky

The Quebec Stakes sits prominently in a list of the standout all-weather races in the winter programme and if anything it is growing in stature.

The past four winners each ran to a Racing Post Rating of at least 111, while no winner from the previous six runnings surpassed a figure of 107.

Sangarius’s 115 RPR two seasons ago, when he nosed out Bangkok, is the standout performance over the last decade and this year we have a runner who has already exceeded that.

Algiers recorded a 116 RPR over this course and distance last time when second in the Churchill Stakes and had three today's rivals behind. That appeals as the key formline and is essentially why he tops the market.

While Algiers’s backers there might have cursed the fact he was turned over on the line as he hit an in-running low of 1.05, he undoubtedly enjoyed the run of the race from the front.

Algiers lost fair and square to Missed The Cut, the best horse on the day who experienced trouble in the run, but still had plenty of lengths to spare over Harrovian (third), Forest Of Dean (fifth) and Tyson Fury (sixth). However, there are reasons why each will bridge the gap and perhaps overturn it.

The market leader was race-fit having run twice in October, while the other three were returning from breaks ranging from 134 days to 378 days.

Improvement should be forthcoming for all three ahead of a lucrative winter all-weather itinerary and John Gosden, who saddles Harrovian and Forest Of Dean, clearly likes to target this race.

Gosden has sent out three winners in the past decade and crucially this should play out differently to the Churchill Stakes from a tactical perspective.

Wissahickon: one of Gosden's three recent Quebec Stakes winnersCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Jockeys will need to be on their mettle to keep tabs on Jack Mitchell aboard Algiers from stall one, but it is hard to imagine runners being as strung out early as they were in that 11-runner event.

At the early prices the eye is drawn to Tyson Fury from the Churchill also-rans. The son of Iffraaj was returning from a lengthy absence and travelled well to a point before hitting minor trouble in the run and tiring.

That was Tyson Fury’s first start on a synthetic surface and he is less exposed than the rest of these. Perhaps he might take another run to truly peak but he remains a runner of interest in the coming months.

The potential fly in the ointment is the improving three-year-old filly Makinmedoit, who bagged a course-and-distance handicap when last seen in November.

She ran to an RPR of 104 there and only needs to find a few pounds of progression to be a factor in receipt of 7lb from the four geldings.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

'Algiers ought to be bang there'

The Simon and Ed Crisford team have enjoyed a stellar 2022 with 80 domestic winners and more than £1.3 million accrued in prize-money.

Algiers, who got the Newmarket stable off to a great start in February by landing the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile, has the opportunity to put the finishing touches to the year in this £45,000 Listed event.

The five-year-old, winner of five of his 18 races, went down by just a short head to Royal Ascot hero Missed The Cut in the Listed Churchill Stakes over course and distance last month and is likely to start as warm favourite to go one better.

Simon and Ed Crisford: enjoying a strong yearCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Ed Crisford said: “He’s a consistent horse, and ran right up to his best last time out when only just beaten by Missed The Cut.

“He remains in good form and he ought to be bang there at the finish – he looks to have a favourite’s chance on form.”

The trainer acknowledges it looks a potentially tricky affair from a pace perspective, with no confirmed front-runner among the six runners.

“It’s a trappy little race,” Crisford said. “However, if he puts his best foot forward he should be the one to beat.”

The all-weather has played a part in Crisford’s excellent year. “It’s great to be able to get the two-year-olds out on the all-weather at this time of year,” he added.

“On days like Saturday when it keeps the show on the road it’s very important for the sport.”

What they say

Richard Spencer, trainer of Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury has come out of the Churchill Stakes well. It was his first start for a good while and he was a bit unlucky in the run. He got caught in a bit of a pocket and could not go anywhere, but he still ran well and the winner Missed The Cut is clearly a very good horse. It is a smaller field on Saturday but looks another competitive race. Looking at the ratings, he will have to step up on what he has done, but hopefully he can give a good account.

Harry Eustace, trainer of Makinmedoit
She’s in great form and did it well at Lingfield last time. She needs to step up in this company but she does handle the track well. It has taken me a while to find out the best way to ride her. She quite likes running at horses and I hope that works again. There aren’t many runners and I’m not sure where the pace will come from but we won’t change the way we ride her because of that.
Race reporting by Richard Birch

Saturday previews:

1.15 Lingfield: Finding the leader could prove key to solving this sprint puzzle

2.40 Chelmsford: Can Lord Paramount land the odds against experienced rivals?

3.00 Lingfield: 'She's taken off on the track' - can Queen Of Ipanema make it six on the bounce?

3.15 Chelmsford: 'I'd love him to win one and go out on a high note' - sprint handicap quotes

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