Charge has John Porter mission

Chemical Charge heads to Newbury on Saturday for the Gr. 3 John Porter Stakes now known as the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes three weeks on from his smooth return win in a conditions race at Doncaster.

Chemical Charge was very good on Town Moor, drawing away in the closing stages, and a repeat performance should see him right in the mix in this race, in which he'll wear first-time cheekpieces. Chemical Charge is yet to finish outside of the first two in eight runs, winning three times, and remains unexposed for a 5-year-old.

One of the horses taking on Chemical Charge is old rival Crimean Tatar, who beat Chemical Charge by half a length in the Listed Wild Flower Stakes at Kempton last November. Crimean Tatar has only had two starts so is open to further progress, but Chemical Charge has a 5 lb pull in the weights. Other key players are last year's very progressive Listed winner Dal Harraild, one-time Derby favourite Midterm and last year's St Leger fourth Muntahaa, who finished third behind Chemical Charge at Doncaster.

Lethal Impact also represents Qatar Racing Limited at Newbury on Saturday, and the form of his debut fourth at Newcastle last November has been franked by recent wins for both the winner and second. Lethal Impact holds entries in the Dante and Derby and should relish this step up to 11 furlongs.