Merchant looking to bank another big race for Highclere
MERCHANT takes the King George V Stakes for @TomMarquand and trainer @WilliamHaggas. Congratulations to connections. pic.twitter.com/5CcXFLkYB5
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2025
'He comes into it – according to William – in really good form and he's been working well at home.
'It's one step at a time with him and we will see how he gets on but we would be very hopeful of a big show as he's a fast-improving horse and one we think the world of.'
The last four winners of this have gone on to contest the St Leger and although his team are refusing to rule out a Classic tilt, it could be an audacious trip to Paris that comes calling in the autumn if Merchant continues his rapid progression through the ranks.
Herbert added: 'The St Leger is certainly possible it's just whether we want to go the mile and six route or whether we stick to a mile and a half.
Tom Marquand aboard Merchant shakes hands with Harry Herbert, after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
'It will all depend on how he progresses and if he happens to win the Gordon Stakes we would then all being well head to the Great Voltigeur (at York, August 20) and if he happened to win that then the conversation would be do you go for the St Leger or have a crack at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
'I think it's wide open at this stage and of course there is a lot of water to flow under the bridge still. But William and I have been discussing it for a while and I'm not certain the St Leger would be the right move for this horse, although I hate to say that now when we're nowhere near that point.
'Hopefully all goes well at Goodwood and once that is out of the way we can go from there.'
Eve Johnson Houghton has already made her mark in the juvenile Group races this week and will bid for Super Sprint compensation with Havana Hurricane in the Markel Richmond Stakes.
Havana Hurricane was a Royal Ascot winner (John Walton/PA)
The Royal Ascot winner narrowly missed out on a huge bounty when beaten a short head at Newbury but now returns to six furlongs, the distance over which he went down fighting to Charlie Appleby's reopposing Maximized in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom.
'It would be exciting to make it a Group Two double for the week,' said Johnson Houghton.
'He's in great form, he's done nothing wrong and I think six furlongs will really suit him now we know to hold on to him for a bit longer.
'We obviously kicked too soon at Epsom, but we learned from it.'
Clive Cox has bided his time since with Coppull since finishing third in the Coventry Stakes at the Royal meeting but with the form looking smart, is hopeful he can show the required progress in a race the Lambourn handler has won with Golden Horde (2019) and Supremacy (2020).
'I was really pleased with his effort in the Coventry and I just wanted to give him a little bit of time as he's still developing,' said Cox.
Trainer Clive Cox will saddle Coppull (Mike Egerton/PA)
'He's done nothing but please so far and this is another big step, but we really like him.
'It's nice to be heading to these races with horses in form.'
Disappointing in the Coventry was Archie Watson's Underwriter, but after being returned to Ayr for a confidence-boosting win since, attempts to go one better than owners Wathnan Racing's The Strikin Viking who was touched off in this race 12 months ago.
'We took him back up to Ayr and he was impressive there on debut and again the other day, he just had a complete blip for whatever reason at Royal Ascot,' said Wathnan's Richard Brown.
'We couldn't find any reason for the poor performance at Ascot so we went back up to Ayr with a penalty and he showed us what he could do.
'It's a step up in class, but we'll find out where we're at.'
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He goes on any ground so it won't matter what the weather does. BIG MOJO (3.05 Goodwood, nb) Likes it here and can show his class in the King George Qatar Stakes. DIEGO VENTURA (1.55 Goodwood, treble) He is just about the only runner in the field who is proven in testing conditions - and looks set to get just that. Templegate's TV verdicts 1.20 KYLE OF LOCHALSH is fancied to go three better than last year's fourth and land this marathon prize. He's on the same mark, handles any ground and shaped with promise on his reappearance. He's much more lightly raced than 12 months ago and looks primed to peak. Aggagio loves it round here and was impressive under Ashley Lewis last time but stamina beyond 2m remains a question mark. Align The Stars hasn't quite fired this year but ran well in a strong Royal Ascot handicap and is lurking on a handy mark. He has a good record here but came up short in this last year. Tashkhan is classy and thrives in deep ground should it rain, with similar comments applying to Zinc White. Sheradann has been knocking on the door and shapes as though this trip will suit. Irish raider Mordor is interesting as this stamina test could bring improvement. 1.55 DIEGO VENTURA is just about the only runner in the field who is proven in testing conditions. James Doyle's mount has been running well at Listed level in France and scored over seven furlongs at Longchamp in May. He then went well at Epsom before going down in a bunch finish at Chantilly last time. Conditions will be ideal and he has more to come. Cosmic Year has shown his best on good ground as he showed when second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas which is strong form. The ground may not be ideal but this is a fair drop in class which makes him a player. King Of Cities has been placed on tacky ground and sees out this trip well. He has yet to win this season but could go well under Ryan Moore. Seagulls Eleven was a solid second to non-runner Opera Ballo at Newmarket last time. He's unproven on this ground and needs a step forward. 2.30 FIFTH COLUMN can take another step up for the Gosdens. His only defeat this season came when a strong-finishing seventh in the Britannia at Royal Ascot, where he won his group and shaped like the best horse on the far side. He confirmed that when winning stylishly at Newmarket last time, and a 3lb penalty might not be enough to anchor this improving three-year-old who can beat his elders. Skukuza is the main threat. He's officially 8lb well in after two smooth wins at The Curragh, including a Listed last time, and is clearly thriving. Greek Order ran a screamer in the Royal Hunt Cup on his first start back from the US and again shaped well at Sandown behind Arisaig who is a contender here. He's a big player if things fall right. Ebt's Guard has run well here before and wasn't beaten far in the Royal Hunt Cup. 3.05 BIG MOJO can follow up last year's Glorious Goodwood win in the King George Qatar Stakes. Mick Appleby's flyer ran a cracker at Newmarket last time and looks up to this level. Aussie Asfoora will show her true colours here after a poor Ascot run, while She's Quality lives up to her name. Here's my guide to the field, where I rate them one (worst) to five (best): ASFOORA 4 FOOR star. Aussie raider won the King Charles III at Royal Ascot last year was just denied in this. Had excuses this year and could bounce back. BIG MOJO 5 BIG chance. Won Molecomb here last year and has progressed at three. Unlucky in the Commonwealth Cup and ran a huge race in the July Cup. Strong claims back at 5f. CELANDINE 2 HARD Cel. Chased home Big Mojo in last year's Molecomb and beat Time For Sandals over 6f at York. Needs to prove she enjoys 5f as much. CLARENDON HOUSE 1 DON for. Has run well over this C&D before but was poor at Epsom last time and needs more at this level. FROST AT DAWN 3 HOT Frost. Won 6f Listed race earlier this season and showed real speed when second in the King Charles III at Royal Ascot. Can go close again. JM JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE fever. Won over C&D at this meeting in 2023 and landed the Epsom Dash in June. Ran well in Listed last time but not up to this. KERDOS 3 TAKE Ker. Fifth in this race last year and good run in the King Charles III. Likes tacky ground and cheekpieces may help. KHAADEM 3 KHA motors. Won this in 2022 and has landed two Group 1s. He's unbeaten in two runs here and looks a big place price. MANACCAN 1 DANGER Man. Solid Listed performer over this trip but has been struggling for a while. NIGHT RAIDER 3 NIGHT shifts. Unbeaten in four AW starts including a Listed 6f at Newcastle. Turf form not as hot but it's early days. SHE'S QUALITY 4 QUALITY pays. Ran a stormer when second in a hot Group 2 at Haydock in May. Sandown didn't suit last time and this test looks much more suitable. SPARTAN ARROW 2 BLUNT arrow. Has improved since sporting cheekpieces and took a French Listed prize latest. Goes well here and track/trip suits but this is much tougher opposition. TIME FOR SANDALS 3 TIME trial. Surprise winner of the Commonwealth Cup over 6f at Ascot. Could improve again but drop in trip an unknown. TOWN AND COUNTRY 1 TOWN and out. Few miles on the clock and is a Listed winner over this trip. Progressive but needs a lot more in this company. 3.45 SOCIALITE can get the party started. Charlie Hills' four-year-old can take this prize with a bold front-running show. He quickened smartly to win at Windsor on handicap debut, shaping as though this extra furlong would suit. Lightly raced, progressive and effective on any ground, he could prove tough to pass from a handy draw. Liberty Lane is the main danger, with a soft-ground Cambridgeshire win and a Listed success here this year marking him out as a serious player. Haunted Dream won this race last year and had excuses at Royal Ascot. He's a big threat back at this track. Godwinson is thriving after wins in the Lincoln and at Newcastle. He'll be right there if liking this longer trip. Fox Legacy is flying and isn't written off provided the rain stays away. Templegate's tips FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. 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