EVE Johnson-Houghton’s belief in her stable star, Zavateri, remains strong as the National Stakes hero renews rivalry with his Curragh nemesis, Gstaad, in today’s Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

“He’s great, he’s been working really, really well and we’re going there full of hope,” the trainer said of Mick and Janice Mariscotti’s colt. Now four from four, a question mark remains as to whether the son of Without Parole will handle the undulations of the Rowley Mile.

“He obviously hasn’t run at the track before, but he handled the July course and he handled Goodwood, so we’ve got every reason to believe that he’ll handle this,” Johnson-Houghton commented.

“It will take a good horse to beat him, and if they’re better than him then so be it, but they will have to be very good. He has been a dream this year, and to win this would really be the icing on the cake.”

Zavateri evidently gained his trainer’s affections a long time ago, but the gutsy chesnut won the hearts of the public, too, when denying Ballydoyle’s 10/11 favourite Gstaad in a David-and-Goliath style battle last month. The fight was closely-matched, with Zavateri prevailing by a head on the line, and had to survive a stewards’ enquiry.

Moore to come

The market currently deems the pair inseparable, but Ryan Moore, who partnered Gstaad to win the Coventry Stakes impressively, and go close in the Prix Morny, believes that Aidan O’Brien’s colt could come out on top today.

“I think he could reverse that form,” the injured rider said of the National Stakes result. “I know Zavateri got the better of him the last day, but I’ve just got a feeling that this trip at Newmarket on slightly better ground will suit Gstaad. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him the last twice.”

Despite Gstaad and Zavateri’s performances at the highest level, Distant Storm has been well-supported to make his first start in a Group 1 a winning one. Godolphin’s €1.9million breeze-up buy beat Ballydoyle’s subsequent Futurity Stakes winner, Constitution River, on debut, but failed to follow up in the Acomb Stakes, finishing third after running too freely.

Charlie Appleby’s charge produced a more professional effort next time in the Tattersalls Stakes, when he eased four and three quarter lengths clear over today’s course and distance. Ryan Moore admits he’s an obvious danger to Gstaad, saying: “Distant Storm deserves plenty of respect with William Buick riding.”

Of the remaining nine, Moore highlighted Ballydoyle’s second-string, Italy, who has placed on his last three starts in the Superlative Stakes, Acomb Stakes and National Stakes. On Wayne Lordan’s mount, Moore noted: “Italy remains of interest. Things haven’t quite gone right for him yet, but he’s got a bit to prove.”