Sole Power in Sha Tin© Photo Healy Racing
Sole Power is reported in great form as he bids to win the Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes for a third time at Newmarket this afternoon.
The Eddie Lynam-trained nine-year-old is the only dual winner of this Group Three dash. He was successful in 2013 and 2014 but did not defend his crown last season.
Sole Power is fit from his annual trip to Dubai where he had mixed fortunes, finishing a close third in the Meydan Sprint before being out of the money in the Al Quoz.
"The run on Dubai World Cup night was disappointing, but his run before that was a great one. He showed he'd still got the spark," said Paddy Power, son of owners David and Sabena Power.
"The ground looks like it's going to be softer than ideal, but he has travelled over perfect and he's in cracking form.
"He has already made history as he is the only horse to win this race more than once.
"This year is all about winning races for the third time - the Palace House, then the King's Stand and the Nunthorpe. That's all we want!
"It would be nice to win this, but if we could pick up another King's Stand and the Nunthorpe would be amazing.
"Now he's nine years old you're nervous if he still has it, but he showed in Dubai he's still entitled to mix it at the top level.
"When he won at the Curragh in September it was yielding and that was the first time he'd ever won on anything worse than good. It was a proper Group Two."
