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Royal Ascot winner Expert Eye and G1 St James's Palace Stakes second Gustav Klimt feature among 43 entries revealed today for the £300,000 G2 Qatar Lennox Stakes, staged over seven furlongs on Tuesday, July 31, day one of the 2018 Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Gustav Klimt, one of seven entries for Britain and Ireland's champion Flat trainer Aidan O'Brien, stayed on well to finish a half-length behind unbeaten Without Parole in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot on June 19.
O'Brien's entries also include G1 Cheveley Park Stakes victor Clemmie, G3 Jersey Stakes third Could It Be Love as well as G2 scorer Spirit Of Valor and G3 winner Intelligence Cross.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Expert Eye bounced back to form with a sparkling four and a half-length success in the G3 Jersey Stakes (7f) at the Royal Meeting on June 20. The three-year-old son of Acclamation registered a thrilling four and a half-length victory in the G2 Qatar Vintage Stakes over seven furlongs at the 2017 Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Two previous winners of the G2 Qatar Lennox Stakes, 2016 scorer Dutch Connection (Charlie Hills) and shock 2017 victor Breton Rock (David Simcock) are also entered for this year's renewal.
QIPCO 2000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win finished fourth in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes and Lambourn valley handler Roger Teal is eyeing a tilt at the Qatar Goodwood Festival with the progressive three-year-old.
The son of Dark Angel has won two of his three starts over seven furlongs, including a convincing two-length victory in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster in September.
Teal, based at Shefford Valley Stables, said: "Tip Two Win is in good form at home and has come out of his run at Royal Ascot fine.
"We have entered Tip Two Win in the Qatar Lennox Stakes and we might end up running in the race
"The Lennox is over seven furlongs and my thought process is that if we are going to take on older horses for the first time, I would prefer to do it over seven.
"The G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes is over a mile, but he is a late foal and I feel that it will be a different test for him to take on horses of all ages and therefore, we are keen to go back to seven furlongs.
"I have been very proud of his efforts this year. We were slightly disappointed with his run in the St James's Palace as we felt he could have finished closer if things had turned out differently in the race.
"Things didn't quite go to plan as we were caught behind horses early and he was slow away from the stalls and pulled hard.
"However, that's racing and it was another solid run and we're looking forward to the rest of the season.
"He is having a little quiet time at the moment after his Ascot exertions and we will start riding him again next week."
North Yorkshire handler Mark Johnston has an excellent record at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. He could run G2 winner Threading, who was the G1 Coronation Stakes runner-up at Royal Ascot and won the Markel Insurance Fillies' Maiden on debut by six lengths at the 2017 Qatar Goodwood Festival,along with recent Listed scorers Lake Volta and Cardsharp.
Recent Wokingham Heritage Handicap winner Bacchus (Brian Meehan), G1 Commonwealth Cup ninth Invincible Army (James Tate) and G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes fifth Projection (Roger Charlton) are other entries.
The Andrew Balding-trained Here Comes When, a narrow winner of the G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at the 2017 Qatar Goodwood Festival, is also entered. He could be joined by stable companions Absolutely So and Donjuan Triumphant.
The Henry Candy-trained Limato has won three of his five starts over seven furlongs, but was only fourth when the 3/1 favourite for the 2017 Qatar Lennox Stakes. The six-year-old son of Tagula has finished down the field the G1 Lockinge Stakes and the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, both over a mile, so far this year.
Progressive three-year-olds Fighting Irish (Harry Dunlop), Emaraaty (John Gosden) and Emmaus (Roger Varian), as well as talented five-year-olds Tasleet (William Haggas) and Zonderland (Clive Cox), are other possible starters.
