Rahiebb part of red-hot field for Ormonde Stakes

Roger Varian is excited to see his St Leger runner-up Rahiebb make his competitive return in the Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes at Chester on Thursday.

Although without a victory since making a winning debut at Newcastle in March of last year, the Frankel colt improved throughout the season and was only narrowly beaten in both the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and the season’s final Classic at Doncaster.

He faces a far from straightforward task on his first start as a four-year-old, however, with Aidan O’Brien not only saddling last year’s winner Illinois but also dual Group One winner Jan Brueghel. But Varian is confident there is more to come from his charge.

“It’s a lovely race for him, even if it’s a warm renewal. I don’t know if he can win or not, but it’s a lovely starting point for his season,” said the Newmarket handler.

“He’s done really well over the winter and has really matured and developed and I’m hoping his best days are ahead of him. He didn’t run at two and learned on the job a little bit last season before finishing off his season with a career best in the Leger.

“That was a sign of things to come, hopefully, and we think he can really bounce forward this season. He’s going to be involved in plenty of strong races which will give us a bit of a guide, but we’ve been really pleased with his preparation and how he looks and I’m looking forward to getting him started.”

O’Brien has saddled a record seven winners of the Group Three contest, with Illinois following in the footsteps of top-class performers like St Nicholas Abbey (2011) and Japan (2021).

But the returning champion is passed over by Ryan Moore in favour of Jan Brueghel, the 2024 Leger hero who last season inflicted a notable defeat on Calandagan in the Coronation Cup. O’Brien hopes to send him back to Epsom on June 6, provided his Chester comeback goes smoothly.

“Jan Brueghel’s plan is to go back to the Coronation and the Ormonde Stakes might suit as a perfect prep for that. St Nicholas Abbey went from the Ormonde back to Epsom, so that’s what we’ll do with him,” the trainer said during a press morning at his yard.

“He’s a mile-and-a-half horse, although we know he stays further.”

Karl Burke’s Al Qareem was best of the rest behind Illinois last year and returns for another crack following a successful start to his season at Musselburgh.

Syndicate manager Nick Bradley said: “We were very happy with his run up at Musselburgh, obviously this is much tougher in terms of opposition. That was a Listed race and this is a Group race and a deep one.

“We didn’t think Aidan would declare both of his, but we’re there to take our chance and we know the track will be fine for him and so will the ground.

“He’s in very good form at home and I think he’s one of only four in there that can win this.”