Aljamaaheer aiming for overdue Group race glory in Summer Mile

Aljamaaheer was denied victory in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot by the late flourish of Declaration Of War. That colt has since finished second to Al Kazeem in the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

Roger Varian’s four-year-old son of Dubawi began his campaign by losing out in a photograph to Producer at Leicester. He then finished third to Farhh in the Lockinge Stakes before his fine run at the Royal meeting.

Paul Hanagan had him travelling easily on the bit with two furlongs to run and looked to have timed it to perfection when nosing ahead in the final 100 yards. He is equally effective over seven furlongs or a mile and has not been out of the first four in nine career starts.

Afsare, Mull of Killough, Trade Storm and Trumpet Major are all within a couple of pounds of Aljamaaheer on official ratings to this race is going to take a lot of winning. Afsare can be troublesome at the start but ran a fine race under new pilot James Doyle at Sandown last time.

That race was over a mile and a quarter and it was only in the last 75 years that he gave best to the French raider Mandour. Trade Storm is held by Aljamaaheer on Ascot running but was progressive last season and won twice in Dubai this spring.

Mull of Killough has come through the handicap route and won the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket in April. His last outing was a respectable fifth in the Singapore International Cup but this mile could prove a little sharp for him.

Premier Loco produced a mighty run to be second in the Royal Hunt Cup under a huge weight. The nine-year-old is showing no signs of losing his enthusiasm for the game and could put in a bold run here.

Stirring Ballad was favourite for the Hunt Cup but was controversially switched across the course by jockey Richard Hughes, losing all chance. The rider of Prince of Johanne adopted the same tactics and that horse came out and won last weekend so it would be no surprise to see Stirring Ballad getting involved in the finish here.

Guest Of Honour won easily at Windsor after a good second in the Newbury Spring Cup whilst Pastoral Player and Red Jazz also have chances on their very best form.