Persica picked to put up bold defence of Diomed crown Persica is anticipated to have perfect conditions when he sets out to continue his Epsom love affair and defend his Betfred Diomed Stakes crown on Friday. Richard Hannon’s five-year-old has won at this meeting the past two years, claiming the Lester Piggott handicap on Derby day in 2024 before returning to see off Karl Burke’s reopposing Ice Max in this particular event 12 months ago. His handler is expecting another bold bid, saying: “He’s in good form and this has been the plan really since the start of the year. “He looks like he’ll get his ground and it will be softish ground which he will like. “He goes well round there, he’s won twice at Epsom and should have a great chance – he handles the place better than some.” Ice Max is one of two for Spigot Lodge handler Burke alongside Goodwood Festival Stakes winner Boiling Point who is the choice of stable jockey Clifford Lee. Also arriving on the back of a recent victory is Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven, who bettered his near-miss at Saint-Cloud when landing a ParisLongchamp Listed event and represents a collective of owners including the newly-retired Premier League great James Milner and his former Brighton teammates Lewis Dunk and Danny Welbeck. “There’s a tiny question mark it may come too soon but he’s moving well and seems fresh and we’re happy with him,” said Palmer. “He’s suited by a small field, a turning and downhill track, as he’s shown at Longchamp and Goodwood, and he’s suited by give in the ground so he ticks a lot of boxes. “He ran a very good race at Saint-Cloud on his return and he’s totally versatile in terms of going left- or right-handed so I’m hopeful of another nice performance from him. “He doesn’t have to make the running and it was never the plan when he won at Goodwood last summer, he just ended up there. “There looks like there might be a bit of pace in the race, but the nice thing is, being drawn where he is, Oisin (Murphy) can sit and watch what’s going on and react.” The sole Group One winner in the line-up is Ralph Beckett’s Sussex Stakes scorer Qirat, who has failed to trouble the judge since his shock win on the Sussex Downs last summer, but is without the penalty he has often been lumbered with since on this occasion. “This has sort of been his long-term plan since we gave him a run earlier in the season,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte. “He wasn’t fully wound up then, but this has always been what we’ve been working towards and Ralph is happy with him and he’s training well. “The ground and track shouldn’t be an issue and we’re looking forward to seeing him. He’s been lumping a Group One penalty around since the Sussex last year, but I suppose that’s not a bad complaint if he has one of those to his name.” Ed Dunlop’s Skukuza, John and Thady Gosden’s Chancellor and Andrew Balding’s Royal Playwright are the other runners in a field of eight.
