Gelded Al Aasy should be close to his best on return says William Haggas

Saturday: 2.50 Newbury
Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes (Group 3) | 1m3f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

One-time Arc hopeful Al Aasy makes his much-anticipated return to the track 72 days after his disappointing defeat as the 1-2 favourite in the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket.

That performance was 5lb below his best on RPRs and he seemed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory after briefly hitting the lead as he met the rising ground on the July course, only to be outbattled by Sir Ron Priestley. A similar scenario happened when Pyledriver got the better of Al Aasy in the Coronation Cup on his previous start. Has his bubble burst?

The fact that William Haggas, who has a 35 per cent strike-rate (11-31) with his older horses at Newbury in the last five years, has gelded him indicates he believes Al Aasy has more to give. Just four months ago he was staking his claim as the best middle-distance horse around.

Perhaps open to the most amount of improvement is Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes winner Foxes Tales. With just six races under his belt, this rather gawky but talented stayer has yet to fulfil his potential and has already shown a penchant for rain-softened ground, proven by his gutsy victory in a bog at Haydock last time.

Andrew Balding makes the wise decision to step him up in trip, and although a small field and steady pace may not be ideal, he doesn't lack a turn of foot as highlighted by the fastest split for each of the final three furlongs (12.36sec, 12.22sec, 12.72sec) when he landed the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot.

You can grade the level of form of this race based on where Solid Stone, who is the most likely leader, finishes. The consistent stayer has achieved an RPR between 108 and 114 on eight of his last nine runs – although even his best shouldn't be good enough in this field.

Ad Infinitum, who has a stone to find on the market protagonists, and Ebor also-ran Ilaraab look to have been set tough tasks.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

Haggas pleased with Al Aasy

William Haggas believes Al Aasy, who has been gelded since his shock defeat in the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket in July, will be close to his best on this return to action.

Winner of his previous two Group 3 starts at Newbury by an aggregate of more than eight lengths, Al Aasy looked a potential superstar before his narrow defeat by Pyledriver in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom.

It was impossible not to be impressed by the manner in which Al Aasy cruised through the Aston Park Stakes in May, when he brushed aside 2019 St Leger winner Logician without coming off the bridle.

It's fair to say things haven't quite panned out as well as connections would have anticipated after that Newbury success – highlighted, of course, by the gelding operation in the immediate aftermath of his Newmarket defeat – but there is still plenty of time for Al Aasy to rise to the top, with the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot firmly on the agenda.

Haggas, who also runs Ilaraab, said: "Al Aasy is doing well. I'm very pleased with him. He won't be totally at his best, but he won't be far short of it."

Haggas added: "We've always hankered about running him in the Champion Stakes if the ground came up heavy – which it can often do in October at Ascot."

Stablemate Ilaraab also has questions to answer after twice performing below expectations this summer.

Ilaraab, who was winning his sixth consecutive race when comfortably making a successful seasonal reappearance in a handicap at York's Dante meeting in May, was sent off 4-1 second favourite for the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, but beat only two home.

"He's lost his way a bit," admitted Haggas. "He ran poorly in the Ebor – admittedly from a bad draw – and we're putting cheekpieces on for the first time. He's better with some cut in the ground."

What they say

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Saeed Suhail, owner of Solid Stone
He seems to be working better than he's done all season. We're very happy with him.

Alastair Donald, racing manager to King Power Racing, owners of Foxes Tales
He gets 6lb from two of the older horses, and is a progressive three-year-old. The extra furlong is a plus and good ground is suitable. He should go very well.

Saturday's race previews:

2.15 Newbury: will the true Khaadem turn up again? Tom Collins assesses a 'wide-open' sprint

2.30 Ayr: trainer views and tipster analysis before an ultra-competitive Ayr Silver Cup

3.05 Ayr: unbeaten runner's tendency to hit flat spot makes her an in-running play

3.40 Ayr: 'Hopefully this will be his last run in a handicap' – key Ayr Gold Cup quotes

3.40 Ayr: why Great Ambassador may find himself in the worst possible position (Members' Club)

4.00 Newbury: will early season form or late-season bloomers flourish in a puzzling Mill Reef?

4.30 Gowran Park: 'It's probably the first time all season she's got her proper ground'