Royal Ascot the target for Miracle Of Medinah

Trainer Mark Usher believes there is an outside chance that Miracle Of Medinah could head to Royal Ascot in June.

The evergreen 10-year-old was a classy performer when he first burst onto the scene, claiming notable victories in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury and Newmarket's Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes, but he has not been seen in action since September 2019.

However, Usher has now confirmed Miracle Of Medinah is closing in on a comeback and he is targeting a return to the track in May, although he believes the chestnut gelding will have to mark his comeback with a victory if he is to stand any chance of heading to Royal Ascot the following month.

“He tweaked his off-fore suspensory joint last year when we were bringing him back, so we've given him time off and just started going now,” Usher was quoted as saying by the Racing Post.

“He'll be back and hasn't got that many miles on the clock for a ten-year-old ? he'll be one for the fast ground in high summer.

“For a small yard to be represented in the bigger handicaps would be great and I'd say he'd be ready to run in the middle of May, but he'd have to win to stand any chance of getting in at Royal Ascot!”