A fine fifth in Wokingham Handicap in last month at Royal Ascot, SILENT ECHO can be proved to be the most handicapped and progressive horse in the field in Qatar Stewards Cup on Saturday at Goodwood and realize ambition for Peter Hedger, his veteran trainer. When handled by Roger Charlton, who was two-time winner in last season, the four-year-old thrived under new handler who trained to Fontwell Park racecourse for many years, just a couple of miles from Goodwood.
Silent Echo is second to classy Dreamfield. Look for a handicap at Windsor and follow up successfully on the same course to make way to the Wokingham weights. He is now 2lb lower in handicap and carried penalty of 5lb at Ascot and he is well suited by six furlongs of fast run and it is freshened up since for the race and he must go too close.
In addition, the form of Wokingham is doing well. Bacchus was not beaten far ahead in Group Three next time and Dreamfield is a runner-up which finished sixth in July Cup when Spring Loaded and George Bowen have been the great winners recently.
Dropped to five furlongs, latter overtaken 19 rivals around 3 weeks ago at Ascot and earned penalty of 6lb. Since he is back in form, Spring Loaded seems to be a great player but he is 7lb behind the selection.
Since then, George Bowen has whizzed in at Hamilton but he also carries penalty of 6lb when Wokingham fifth. Now Tis Marvellous is 4lb behind Silent Echo. Foxtrot Lady seems to improve filly and looks to run well definitely after another best performance of career to rule the Newmarket July meeting and also incurred another with penalty of 6lb. Dancing Star, her half sister, won the race in 2016 and she could come back in form after her fourth to Raven’s Lady at York in Group Three.
The first and second and fourth position winners were Lancelot Du Lac, Aeolus and Growl respectively in previous year and they could go well again with hot weather by the end of week and conditions are not likely to be around as soft this time. Melodic Mountain can gain compensation at Newmarket for luckless run on course last time in Chalice Stakes in the Listed British Stallion Studs.
The filly of Ralph Beckett is a three-time winner before being beaten narrowly at Doncaster in Park Hill.
