Silver Knott aiming for more gold in G2 Jockey Club Stakes

Globetrotting five-year-old Silver Knott makes his first UK appearance for two years in the G2 Jockey Club Stakes on day one of Newmarket’s Guineas Festival, Friday, 2 May.

The son of Lope de Vega lined up in the G1 2,000 Guineas at the same meeting as a three-year-old, in which he failed to act on soft ground and finished down the field.

He has spent most of his time since in the United States, where he rattled off a hat-trick of G2 wins last season in the Elkhorn Stakes, Man o’ War Stakes and Bowling Green Stakes.

Silver Knott wintered in Dubai and added a fourth G2 success to his profile on his only appearance at Meydan as he readily took the Dubai City Of Gold on Super Saturday.

His trainer Charlie Appleby said: “We were delighted with Silver Knott’s victory in Dubai and he has returned to Newmarket fit and well. Conditions here should suit and we are hopeful he can be a big player.”

Unbeaten Alpine Trail steps up to Listed level for the same trainer in the Newmarket Stakes. Following an impressive introduction at Wolverhampton at the start of February, the Dubawi colt was a decisive winner on turf at Yarmouth in early April.

Devil’s Advocate represents John & Thady Gosden in the same race, with the Chelmsford maiden winner having finished sixth in the Listed Blue Riband Trial on his three-year-old return at Epsom Downs.

Symbol Of Honour looks to continue an unbeaten start to 2025 in the Listed King Charles II Stakes. The Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old denied subsequent G2 scorer West Acre in Meydan’s Al Wasl Stakes before comfortably taking the Dubai Trophy at the same course.

Charlie Appleby said: “Alpine Trail has done nothing wrong so far, in his races and his work. Stepping up to this level will potentially give us a steer on where we head in the summer and he goes into this in good shape.

“Symbol Of Honour put up two decent performances in Dubai and has done well since, although this looks a hot race. We hope that he might potentially be a horse for the G3 Jersey Stakes, so he will need to be competitive to warrant those plans.”