Knight back in Pattern company

Monday 30 July 2012

Trainer Paul D'Arcy believes Edinburgh Knight is only just reaching his peak as he steps back into Pattern company for the Betfair Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Tuesday.

An official rating of 109 suggests he has every right to be competing in the best races, after he only just missed out in the valuable International Stakes at Ascot.

D'Arcy said: "He was hampered coming out of the stalls at Ascot and got stopped in his run over a furlong out, but was only beaten by a fast-finishing horse on the other side of the course."

He added: "He keeps hitting the crossbar, which is frustrating, but he is running well. I said to the owners early in his career that he would not be a proper racehorse until he was five.

"He has run before at Goodwood, in last year's Stewards' Cup over six furlongs. He used to go flat out in his races which is why he was sprinting but we worked with him and he now settles. He just gets a mile but is suited by seven furlongs.

"My main worry is that it is going to be a bit of a tactical race, with little or no pace."