Jim Crowley hoped Battaash had a third lucky chance in King Stand

Jim Crowley hopes Battaash will be one of the horses to beat in the top sprint races once the final season has taken place.

The well-trained six-year-old boy in Charlie Hills enjoyed a good year in 2019, returning to style in Temple Stakes at Haydock before finding his old rival Blue Point a too good shade in King Stand at Royal Ascot, when he had 12 months earlier.

The third consecutive victory in King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood followed, before the previous frustrations in Nunthorpe Stakes in York were put aside when he stormed down Knavesmire in August to defeat the Soldier Call Call.

Relive the hero of Battaash at Goodwood

Former Crowley champion racer is looking forward to getting back aboard the Dark Angel gelding, and told Sky Sports Racing: “Last year he was very good, the only hit was Abbaye at the end of the year, but now he’s back, I saw him and he looked in good form”.

Something special, he’s very fast. Unfortunately, Ascot is a very hard long-haired dog, but he ran a bad race there and when he was good, he was very, very good.

Another great horse to fly the flag for Sheikh Hamdan’s team is Elarqam, trained by Mark Johnston.

Elarqam was up close in York despite some troubles

He ran a really good race at Juddmonte, he passed a little bit that day and then of course they stayed on the railroad far away, it looks like he won’t be in the first four people. and then he came home very well and ran out of the room.

Crowley a serious horse. It will be great to make him a Group 1 winner, he is one of the better horses with age and is an interesting prospect for this season.

Crowley is also hoping for good from John Gosden Hay Enbihaar, who was defeated less than two lengths in the Prix de Royallieu in Paris Longchamp in October.