Roger Varian believes that experience will stand Wechaad in good stead ahead of his bid to claim the Britannia Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot.

Owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, the son of Oasis Dream ran five times as a juvenile, getting off the mark at Doncaster on his fourth start before rounding out the campaign by finishing third in Newbury’s Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes (1400m).

Roger Varian’s colt, who also finished runner-up to subsequent Italian Derby (2000m) winner Venetian Prince as a two-year-old, made a promising reappearance when a staying-on fourth over 1400m at Goodwood.

“Wechaad is quite a nice horse we have in the Britannia Handicap,” said Varian in his At The Races stable tour. “He was third in the Horris Hill as a two-year-old and was fourth on his comeback run at Goodwood. The first three home were drawn two, five and three and my horse was drawn 15 and was the only one from a wide draw to run a race and make up any ground from the back.

“I thought it was a really good run, and the race will bring him on. Going up to 1600m should suit him and, with his experience, I think the Britannia could play to his strengths.”

Hugo Palmer described We’re Goosers as a “very nice horse and one who he thinks will keep progressing” in a recent interview, so it’s shock to see him towards the fore of the early markets. The son of Starman left his reappearance effort well behind when bolting up by nine and a half lengths at Newmarket and he could still have plenty more to offer back up in class off an 11lb higher mark.

It could be a big week for Wathnan Racing, and the Qatari operation look like being double handed with handicap debutants Organise, making his first outing since being gelded, and Archie Watson’s Exclusive Code, while fellow lightly raced contenders Blue Courvoisier and Langstone are others to note for Clive Cox.

Additional unexposed challengers include George Boughey’s Moonfall, the William Haggas-trained Princling and Charlie Appleby’s Tales Of Wisdom.

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