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Guineas Still On Berkshire Radar

Berkshire could still make the Qipco 2000 Guineas if he satisfies trainer Paul Cole in an important workout this weekend.

Berkshire wins at Royal Ascot
Berkshire wins at Royal Ascot Picture: Racing and Sports

Big things are expected of the colt this season after his victories in the Chesham Stakes and the Royal Lodge but he was a huge disappointment on his reappearance in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, where he dropped away to finish 19 lengths behind the impressive Kingman.

"Berkshire has come out the Greenham well, we could see his chances were doomed as soon as he came out the stalls in front and started pulling and he was never going to get home," read a statement posted on www.paulcole.co.uk.

"Last year first time out he did the same at Newbury, had no cover pulled and ran out of steam. He will do a bit of work on Saturday on our Woolley Down grass gallop for the first time this year and he will go the full distance.

"We are obviously hoping the race would have brought him on mentally and if we are happy with his work on Saturday a tilt at the Guineas is not out of the question. We would hope for a fast pace which would suit us."

French trainer Freddie Head believes Charm Spirit will "take a lot of beating" in the Guineas. The Invincible Spirit colt won the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte on his reappearance, beating the highly-regarded Kiram by a short head. He had finished a two-length third to Karakontie on his final run as a two-year-old in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere.

Charm Spirit would attempt to follow in the hoofprints of Makfi, who won the Djebel in 2010 before going on to Guineas glory at Newmarket.

"The plan is to go to Newmarket," said Head.

"He came out of the Djebel very well and I've been very happy with him. I think he will run very well, he should take a lot of beating.

"I didn't see Kingman's win at Newbury but I heard he was very impressive.

"My horse needs fast ground and we are more likely to get that at Newmarket than in France, which is why we are coming over."


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