Horse racing news: Telescope remains on target for Hardwicke Stakes

Telescope is on course to put up a strong bid to repeat last year's victory in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained entire took the Group Two prize by a staggering seven lengths last summer before going on to being placed in both the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Juddmonte International.

Fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf, he got off the mark for this campaign with a six-length rout in the John Porter Stakes at Newbury.

"Fingers crossed it's back to the Hardwicke. He's going on to the tried and tested plan from last year," Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners Highclere, told At The Races.

"He is a horse that has matured again from four to five. Sir Michael told me on Wednesday he is taking his racing really well. He was pleased with the way he has come out of Newbury and I think that's a very good sign.

"We hope he's going to have a proper exciting campaign, which hopefully will mean a Group One victory at some point."

However, Telescope is sure to face stiff opposition in Berkshire next month, including from Luca Cumani's progressive four-year-old Postponed.

Winner of the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on his final start in 2014, Postponed will be stepping back up to a mile and a half after two runs over 10 furlongs.

The latest came at the weekend when he was a close third to Al Kazeem in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on his first try at the top level.

"You can't be disappointed. It was his first try at a Group One, so we were still checking to see if he is actually a Group One horse and he didn't let us down," said Cumani.

"A mile and a quarter we know is a little bit tight for him and a mile and a half is a better trip for him. We had to make the running because there was no pace in the race, but that is not his preferred style of running.

"He much prefers sitting quiet and coming with a flourish in the end, like he did last year. I'd be happier if he'd won, but he was only beaten a neck and a head.

"His next step having had his two runs at a mile and a quarter is now the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot, which won't be a piece of cake because there is Telescope in it, so he will have to be at his best."