Washington tackles Palace House The Aidan O'Brien-trained Washington DC will fly the flag for Ireland in Saturday's Longholes Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. Not beaten far in Group One contests at Ascot, Newmarket (July Course) and Chantilly last year, the Ballydoyle representative got back to winning ways when his sights were lowered at Navan recently. The four-year-old showed the benefit of his comeback run in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan and was a cosy winner of the Listed Woodlands Stakes. Last year's winner Profitable heads a field of 16 declared for the five-furlong sprint on Qipco 2000 Guineas day. Victory in this Group Three dash over five furlongs kick-started a fine season for the Clive Cox-trained sprinter as he went on to win Haydock's Temple Stakes and the King's Stand at Royal Ascot. Cox also has a decent second string to his bow in the filly Priceless. Sir Mark Prescott's Marsha, winner of the Prix de l'Abbaye, makes her seasonal debut while other classy sprinters on show include Cotai Glory, Just Glamorous, Alpha Delphini, Kachy, Kimberella and Muthmir. Ornate and Goldream, winner of this race in 2015, represent Robert Cowell.
