Telescope (right) puts daylight back to his rivals in the Al Rayyan Stakes

  PICTURE: Getty Images  

Report: Newbury, Saturday

Al Rayyan Stakes (Registered As The Aston Park) (Listed) 1m4f, 4yo+

ALL eyes were on Telescope and the 8-13 favourite duly delivered in the style of a Group horse tackling inferior opposition as he romped to a six-length victory.

Chinned close home on his seasonal comeback at Newmarket two weeks ago, Telescope gained a confidence-boosting success on his first start outside Group company since July 2013, his first run as a three-year-old.

Bigger targets now lie in wait for the Sir Michael Stoute-trained star, whose next port of call appears to be a trip to Royal Ascot to defend his Hardwicke Stakes title.

Stoute said: “That was very smooth and very impressive. We’ll go to the Hardwicke Stakes next, then plan the second half. He’s a great traveller and has lots of options.

“He’s honest and consistent, and is a bit stronger from four to five, I’d have been disappointed if he couldn’t have won.”

The five-year-old won the Hardwicke as the 7-4 favourite last year and Betfred have cut him into 7-4 (from 5-2) to repeat the feat. William Hill are looking further down the line with their quote of 16-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Ryan Moore, who won the opening race on the Lockinge card aboard Birchwood, said: “We went very slow for the first seven furlongs really, which is not ideal for him and I was taking him back the whole time as he has such a big, long stride.

“It wasn’t a deep race but he’s destroyed them. Hopefully he’ll progress again.”

Faring best of the rest was Qatar’s leading light Dubday (14-1), who performed creditably on his British debut. Windshear (11-1) completed the placings in third.

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