Salisbury preview: Elronaq to return to winning ways

Elronaq was not seen to best effect last time out, but had previously looked a smart prospect and can get back on the winning trail in the 6f conditions’ stakes on today’s card at Salisbury (16.30).

The Charlie Hills trained colt ran very well on debut when chasing home Eltezam at Haydock, and duly showed the benefit of that experience when romping to a 3 1/4 length success at Newmarket.

Elronaq made all in the hands of jockey Paul Hanagan and forged clear inside the final furlong to win going away.

It was a performance which oozed class, and the two year-old duly ran well when stepped up into Group 2 company and finishing third to Shalaa in the July Stakes at headquarters.

The well-bred son of Invincible Spirit was also far from disgraced when sixth behind the same rival in the Group 3 contest at Goodwood, but was then given a poor tactical ride when fourth of six to Venturist last time out at Doncaster.

For some reason the attacking tactics previously employed on Elronag were discarded, and after being held-up in a slowly run race he got tapped for toe when the pace quickened before keeping on to be beaten two lengths.

I am more than prepared to put a line through that effort, and on previous form Elronaq looks a cut-above his rivals.

In the 1m 6f handicap that closes proceedings (17.35), Burning Desire can take advantage of what looks a handy mark to provide former champion jockey Richard Hughes with his first success as a trainer.

The gelding showed steady improvement in three runs when trained by Mike De Kock, and caught the eye in the last of those when staying on nicely after a slow start to finish a never nearer 4 3/4 length fifth of 11 to Irish Hawke in a 1m 3f maiden at Newbury.