Alyanaabi is one to beat in the John Of Gaunt Stakes

ALYANAABI can secure victory in the Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes (3.33pm) at Haydock Park this afternoon.

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Owen Burrows’ four-year-old can back up a recent course and distance victory with another in the Group Three feature at the Merseyside track.

The Shadwell Stud Estate-owned Alyanaabi won the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket at the end of his juvenile campaign, but he failed to win last year when pitched into Group One company and stepped up to a mile and further.

He ran well enough to be fifth in both the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

But he disappointed when only fourth of five in the 1m2f Listed Steventon Stakes. And he was last of nine on his final start in the Imlf Group Three Strensall Stakes at York in August.

He was gelded over the winter and dropped back to seven furlongs, it seemed to do the trick on his seasonal return in the Listed Pertemps Network Spring Trophy at Haydock. He beat a solid seven-furlong performer in Tiber Flow who won this John Of Gaunt Stakes last year - well that day.

And it hinted that he is ready to resume his early promise at the intermediate trip that suits some horses well.

This is a step up in grade and opposition, but he looks well up to the task and can take the feature on Merseyside.

He faces another previous winner of this race in the returning Kinross, who scored in 2021.

He is now an eight-year-old but has won at the top level and is generally a consistent performer. Ralph Beckett's veteran can go well again but may have to cede to his race-fit, younger rival. While another Group One winner in John and Thady Gosden’s Audience who landed the Lockinge Stakes on his seasonal return last year - will be a big danger to Alyanaabi.