Now that Cougar Mountain (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) has found his metier, the Ballydoyle representative bids to keep the momentum rolling in Friday's G2 Dubai Challenge S. at Newmarket. Relishing the combination of fast ground and a straight track when recording an impressive success in the G2 Joel S. over a mile here last time Sept. 23, the 5-year-old should have no problem with the drop back to this trip having finished only two lengths off the winner when ninth in the G1 Nunthorpe S. over five two years ago. “He's in good form since the last day,” Aidan O'Brien said. “It's a furlong shorter, but he's a horse we've always thought had plenty of speed.” Godolphin's Richard Pankhurst (GB) (Raven's Pass) cut a dash when winning the G2 Hungerford S. over this trip at Newbury Aug. 13 and can be forgiven his subsequent effort when fifth in the G2 Park S. on ground that had been eased by rain at Doncaster Sept. 10. “Richard Pankhurst did not act on the loose ground at Doncaster last time and will be suited by the faster going at Newmarket,” John Gosden commented. Sheikh Hamden bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) makes a belated reappearance from an absence since winning the G3 Greenham S. at this distance on his seasonal debut on the Polytrack at Chelmsford Apr. 16 and has course-and-distance form, as he was second in last year's G3 Somerville Tattersall S.
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