Thunder Strike can regain winning thread in Rose Bowl Stakes

Thunder Strike won his first three starts culminating in an impressive three and a half length victory in the Listed Woodcote Stakes at the Derby meeting in June. Richard Hughes had him up with the pace throughout before quickening ahead in the final two furlongs.

That win earned the son of Sakhee’s Secret a tilt at the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and he was far from disgraced when finishing fourth to War Command. The winner is now hot favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas and Thunder Strike meets nothing of that class on Friday.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Cool Bahamian was over five lengths back in fifth at Epsom and looks to have it all to do to turn the tables here. He came out and won a four-runner race at Pontefract last time with the minimum of fuss but a 3lbs weight pull does not look sufficient.

A bigger threat may come from the William Haggas-trained filly Survived. She ran respectably when sixth to Rizeena in the Queen Mary Stakes at the Royal meeting and was fourth to the useful Ambiance last time out.

Both of those races were over the minimum trip and it will be interesting to see how this daughter of Kyllachy copes with the extra furlong here. Martin Harley takes the ride on her in the Cheveley Park colours.

Johnson Houghton is also represented by Mappa Mundi who won at Ascot last weekend over this distance. That may not have been the strongest maiden race ever staged at Ascot but she held Tanzeel by a length at the line and is still on the upgrade.

The field is completed by another last time out winner in Miracle In Medinah. Mark Usher’s colt was driven out to hold Treaty In Paris by a short head at Salisbury in a Conditions race and this marks a step up in class.