Unbeaten Jan Brueghel takes on stablemate Tower Of London and Crystal Black in Alleged cracker

It promises to be a cracking running of the Alleged Stakes as unbeaten Classic winner Jan Brueghel faces off against fellow Aidan O’Brien-trained and dual Group 2 winner Tower Of London, and Crystal Black, who proved one of the stories of last season with four wins on the bounce.

Despite landing his maiden and the International Stakes over this course and distance on his first two starts, Jan Brueghel always appealed as the type to appreciate further and so it proved when he won the Gordon Stakes over 1m4f before finding plenty close home to fend off stablemate Illinois in the St Leger.

He should make up into a top-drawer four-year-old given he was a work in progress for much of last season, as he showed plenty of signs of greenness in his races. 

It is hard to establish his ceiling with any certainty given he seems to do just enough in his races, and he will be a tough nut to crack if he progresses as expected despite this trip perhaps being on the short side.

Tower Of London finished off last season in excellent style when landing the Curragh Cup, when he relished the blistering gallop set by Grosvenor Square. 

He hasn’t raced over this short a trip since his Derby trial in May 2023 and this is certainly sharp enough for him, especially on this ground, so it might be best to take a watching brief.

The Ger Keane-trained Crystal Black improved out of sight last season, climbing 19lb in the ratings, and he landed the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot before bolting up in the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown in August.

The latter performance was clear evidence he is up to this level given he defeated subsequent Irish Cesarewitch winner The Euphrates by five lengths in a decent time. 

Fast ground shouldn’t be much of an issue given he handled it at Ascot, while the trip isn’t too much of a concern as he showed an excellent turn of foot when getting up late on in a course-and-distance handicap last year.

He’s worth taking a chance on given he’s getting 2lb from Jan Brueghel, and his last run would indicate he is well capable at this level.

Galen promised plenty last season when routing subsequent Listed winner Beechwood by 11 lengths at Killarney and acquitted himself reasonably well in Group company afterwards, but he’s capable of better. He has a fitness advantage having ran three times at Meydan this year, running respectably on each occasion, and isn’t without an each-way chance against rivals having their seasonal reappearance.

Joseph O’Brien’s other runners, Sons And Lovers and Wahdan, are hard to weigh up on their stable debut, but both should handle the ground and have chances based on placed efforts in stakes company last season.

Crypto Force tends to run well at this track but has plenty to find with the main players.

What they say

Ger Keane, trainer of Crystal Black
He’s in good form and we’re happy with him. We planned to give him a racecourse gallop at Navan but he had a little hold-up, but it’s been straightforward with him otherwise. He’s won over this trip and a mile so we felt he could step back or up in trip. I’d rather it be over further and with a bit more ease in the ground, but it’s a good starting point and he’s as fit as we can have him without a run.

Joseph O’Brien, trainer of Galen, Sons And Lovers and Wahdan
Galen is obviously fit from his time in Dubai and this course and distance should suit him well so we’re hoping for a good run. Sons And Lovers has his first run for us so we’re still learning about him, but we’re hoping for a nice run and that he comes forward for the experience. Wahdan also has his first run for us and we think he’ll enjoy the good ground.

Read more of Saturday’s previews:

1.43 Ayr: ‘He’s a lovely horse with a big future’ – key quotes and analysis for competitive novice handicap chase 

2.00 Newbury: ‘She should be a big player’ – who can lay down a 1,000 Guineas marker in big-field Fred Darling? 

2.15 Ayr: Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton saddle leading contenders in opposition to Willie Mullins’ Scottish Champion Hurdle team 

2.35 Newbury: Can Coventry winner Rashabar shape into a Guineas contender? Key analysis and quotes for the Greenham 

3.12 Newbury: ‘He’s the one they all have to beat’ – find out which Spring Cup runner is fancied by their trainer 

3.35 Ayr: ‘He has a lot in his favour, he’ll love the ground and likes the track’ – Willie Mullins talks through his Scottish Grand National squad  

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