Another Festival beckons for HMS President

July 11

Alan bagged a silver and bronze medal at Royal Ascot, and he has two potential money-spinners entered at this week’s Newmarket July meeting, with both the ultra-consistent HMS President and the improving Westerton holding strong claims should their Friday targets be confirmed on Wednesday.

HMS President was only beaten a neck by Irish raider Okita Soushi in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Ascot, and, though Rossa Ryan did nothing wrong on our fellow, Ryan Moore was carrying the ‘invincible’ tag on the Royal Heath all week, and, having got his head in front inside the last 200 metres, he was not going to forfeit that narrow advantage.

Moore, impressed with the tenacity of HMS President, was keen to get the ride when the five-day decs for this race came out, and even off a 5lb higher mark and needing a career-best performance, this reliable six-year-old, who has won the Henry Ponsonby Racing syndicate more than £200,000 in prize money, again has solid prospects in this £100,000 race.

Furthermore, stepping back up to a mile and six (furlongs) will enhance HMS President’s chance, as it was over that distance that he previously beat subsequent winner Adjuvant at the Guineas meeting.

Ryan Moore has also been snapped up for Westerton, whose target is the mile and a quarter Heritage Handicap for three-year-olds. Ryan rode Westerton at Sandown last month. dictating what was a steady gallop until increasing the tempo at the two-furlong pole.

Westerton was breaking his maiden on the Esher slopes, having had just the five previous races, in three of which he finished second. He won’t mind the ground and, though it is a much more competitive handicap than the one he contested at Sandown, he deserves a crack at what is a valuable pot,