Lennox Stakes: Isaac Shelby backed to challenge Kinross

Isaac Shelby has been backed in from 11/2 to 9/2 with Coral for the World Pool Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

The drop back in distance to seven furlongs could prove a shrewd move with the son of Night Of Thunder, who has twice scored at Group level over the trip.

Brian Meehan’s charge claimed the Superlative Stakes as a two-year-old before adding the Greenham on his reappearance, making all in impressive style.

Since that Newbury return, he has run twice over a mile and was denied by the barest of margins in search of Classic honours in the French 2,000 Guineas before finishing a respectable fourth behind Paddington in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He’s back to seven and hopefully that will see him in his best light,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“It’s a tight, competitive race and Kinross will be tough to beat, but the horse is in great form and we’re looking forward to it.

“He got lit up and things didn’t really go to plan at Ascot. I’m not trying to use an excuse and saying he would have won there, but back in trip and back in grade here, he should be thereabouts.”

July Cup third Kinross is 5/4 favourite to reclaim the prize he won in 2021, having gone down by just a neck when second to Sandrine 12 months ago.

“He is a year older now, but he was unlucky not to win it last year and he did win it the year before, so it looks a great spot to get back to winning ways,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for owner Marc Chan.

“There is no doubt this is his best distance. He likes the course and he’s justifiably the favourite, even though that doesn’t mean he will win the race.”

Marbaan backed to show true worth

Charlie Fellowes is convinced 12/1 chance Marbaan will put up a bold show in his bid for back-to-back wins at the Qatar Goodwood Festival following a frustrating run at Royal Ascot.

The Oasis Dream colt shone in the Group Two Vintage Stakes on the Sussex Downs last summer before failing to land a blow in successive Group Ones before the end of his juvenile year.

He made a promising start to his three-year-old campaign by finishing fourth in the Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot and second to subsequent July Cup runner-up Run To Freedom at Salisbury but beat only one home in the Commonwealth Cup itself at the Royal meeting.

Fellowes is adamant the three-year-old is better than he showed in Berkshire last month, though, and is targeting redemption in the Group Two Lennox Stakes.

“I was disappointed with Ascot because I don’t think we saw the real Marbaan – everything that could have gone wrong went wrong,” said the Newmarket handler.

“Ascot is a horrible place to try to make the running and I don’t think Marbaan is the sort of horse you want to make the running with – all of his best performances have come when he’s been ridden with a little bit of cover.

“He was my one real frustration after Ascot, all my other horses ran well, and I’m just convinced it was because of the way the race panned out.

“The plan is to go back to Goodwood for the Lennox. I’m convinced he’s got the speed for six furlongs, but we’re going to go back up to seven and he has won over course and distance. He’s in great order and I know there’s a big performance in him this year.”

Lennox Stakes 2023 odds

5/4 Kinross

9/2 Isaac Shelby

13/2 Al Suhail

9/1 Audience

10/1 Pogo

12/1 Marbaan

16/1 bar

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All odds and market correct at date of publication