Ascot Preview: Mizzou can land four-timer in Murless

Mizzou is progressing at a rate of knots and can take the step up into Listed company in his stride to land today’s Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot (3.40).

The Luca Cumani trained colt only made his racecourse debut in June, when running very green and shaping with bags of promise to finish fourth at Haydock, and has since gone on to land a hat-trick of successes.

In the last of those in a 1m 6f handicap at Haydock, the stoutly-bred son of Galileo showed that staying was his game when coming from well off the pace to lead approaching the final furlong and forged clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

Mizzou was well on top and going away at the finish and had far more in hand than the winning margin suggests.

It was a performance which suggested the lightly-raced three-year-old had plenty more improvement left in the tank and was well worth a crack at this level.

Altough Mizzou faces a couple of useful individuals in the shape of Big Orange and Marzocco, he posseses far more scope than that duo and is expected to come through this test with flying colours.

Lexington Abbey is a sprinter right on top of his game at present, and looks the answer to the 6f handicap (3.05).

The Kevin Ryan trained gelding took advantage of a drop in the weights to get back on the scoresheet at Nottingham in July, and has since posted five really solid efforts off higher marks.

They include an excellent second of 16 to the useful Online Alexander at York and fine fifth of 26 to Huntsmans Close last time out in the Ayr Silver Cup.

Lexington Abbey was given plenty to do in the latter before staying on strongly inside the final furlong to be beaten four lengths, and a repeat of that effort is sure to see him bang on the premises at the business end of affairs in this contest.

In the 7f handicap (4.15), the Tim Easterby trained Azagal is also fancied to take advantage of a drop in the weights to land the spoils.