Horses In Focus / Timeform / 30 June 2009 / Leave a comment

One horse hunting a hat-trick, a Classic contender and a likely ante-post challenger for the Ebor comprise this week's Timeform Horses in Focus...

Horses In Focus 24th-29th June

Alpen Glen has all the hallmarks of a typical Mark Johnston improver, with it being likely that the unbeaten daughter of Halling will be performing in pattern races by the end of the season.

After an impressive six-length maiden win at Chepstow on debut, Alpen Glen found the step up in grade well within her compass. Running in a well-contested mile-and-a-quarter Class 3 handicap at Chester, Alpen Glen still displayed signs of greenness but produced an impressive galloping display to dispatch her in-form stable-mate Eastern Aria.

With significant further improvement expected, especially when stepped back up to a mile and a half, it would be no surprise to see Alpen Glen land a pattern race this season, although she has a handicap entry at Sandown on Friday. She would have an excellent chance of making it three out of three if turning up under a 6lb penalty at Sandown on Friday, as she is sure to be raised significantly by the handicapper when reassessed.

Kevin Prendergast's Kingsfort produced a highly impressive debut success in a maiden at the Curragh which has a rich tradition of producing Group 1 performers. Aidan O'Brien alone has won the race with Horatio Nelson, Brian Boru, Duke of Marmalade and Rip Van Winkle obliging last year. He entered the highly regarded Viscount Nelson, but all of the top stables were represented, with many of the horses going into the race with big reputations, including Kingsfort, who was particularly well backed on the morning of the race.

Travelling supremely well throughout, Kingsfort quickened impressively to win comfortably, and with the first four finishers coming from top stables and strong in the market, the form looks very strong. Although showing a rounded action on the soft ground, his pedigree suggests faster ground will hold no fears, while physically there would appear to be considerable strengthening up to come. All in all, Kingsfort looks a likely Classic contender even at this early stage, and Prendergast plans to send him to Group 1 National stakes, a breeding ground for future Classic winners.

It was a shame that the Northumberland Plate was spoiled to a certain extent by the lack of a proper gallop, meaning those horses ridden prominently were at a considerable advantage. Therefore, the performance of Electrolyser in finishing fifth, having been held up in rear and losing his position just before the turn in, was of great merit. Progressive at three, Electrolyser ran respectably on his first start at four in a strongly-contested mile-and-a-half York handicap at the May meeting, running on as though a step up in trip would suit.

Electrolyser was making ground hand over fist towards the finish, strongly suggesting that staying trips will be his forte, and granted a faster pace and his preferred easy ground, he already seems likely to be one of the likelier ante-post contenders for the Ebor.