Lake Forest could be back in action at York on Saturday

Lake Forest could be in line for a quick return to action in the Al Basti Equiworld Criterion Stakes at York on Saturday.

The William Haggas-trained four-year-old was most recently seen finishing fifth in the Queen Anne on the opening day of Royal Ascot, where he was beaten less than three lengths in a field of 10.

He is a prior Knavesmire winner, taking the Gimcrack as a two-year-old, and may now head back to the scene of that victory for the Group Three Criterion, formerly run at Newmarket’s July course.

“The way the race was run at Ascot just didn’t suit him, they went slowly and then about four furlongs out they just blasted for home,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to co-owner Tony Bloom.

“He was caught in no man’s land, but he wasn’t even beaten three lengths and I thought it was a decent run. It was a proper Group One with some very good horses involved. He’s entered for York on Saturday and William is thinking of running him.

“He’s a tough, hardy horse and he likes the quick ground – we’d like to get another run into him before the weather changes.”

Lake Forest’s last victory came in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill in November, where he defeated Jerome Reynier’s Lazzat by half a length in a field full of top-level horses, earning the best part of £3million for first place.

Lazzat was also at Royal Ascot, advertising the form of their prior meeting with success in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

“In the race he won in Australia there were eight or nine Group One winners. He’s got the form in the book there, he just needs to reproduce that run,” Graham said.

“The key to the horse is he needs a strong, evenly-run pace, the prize-money is very good at York for a Group Three so hopefully they’ll all run and there’ll be a true gallop in the race.”