Torcedor among six for the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot Torcedor is one of six runners in the Longines Sagaro Stakes at Ascot on Wednesday. Jessica Harrington’s charge claimed the scalp of Order Of St George in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan last spring and chased home the same horse in both the Irish St Leger and Long Distance Cup later in the season. He trailed home last of 16 runners on his first start of 2018 in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan, but sets the standard in this two-mile Group Three on his previous form. David Elsworth’s Doncaster Cup hero Desert Skyline makes his seasonal reappearance, but must concede weight all round. Peter Niven’s stable star Clever Cookie, the Andrew Balding-trained Montaly, Brian Meehan’s Raheen House and Time To Study from Mark Johnston’s yard complete the line-up. Group Three honours are also up for grabs in the Merriebelle Stable Pavilion Stakes. Eight three-year-olds have been declared for this six-furlong heat including James Tate’s consistent colt Invincible Army, Charlie Appleby’s Sound And Silence and Abel Handy, an interesting northern challenger for Declan Carroll. Victory Bond, winner of the Easter Classic at Lingfield on Good Friday, is sent back on the grass by William Haggas in the Listed Celebrating The Commonwealth Paradise Stakes. The five-year-old’s seven rivals include Denis Coakley’s Hors De Combat and Century Dream, trained by Simon Crisford. Aidan O’Brien intriguingly sends one horse across the Irish Sea from Ballydoyle, with The Irish Rover declared to face just three opponents in the opening Sodexo Conditions Stakes.
