Laura Mongan has high hopes for Harbour Law in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket

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Laura Mongan says Harbour Law should not be underestimated in Thursday's Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket as she takes on the stellar ranks of her trainer colleagues.

Harbour Law will be Epsom-based Mongan’s first group-race runner in a contest which acts as a potential spring board to the St Leger.

The son of Lawman, whose staying performances defy his pedigree, faces rivals trained by Aidan O’Brien, Sir Michael Stoute, Mick Channon, Saeed Biun Suroor and Roger Varian.

A strong opening to the three-day July Festival sees the comeback of Mark Johnston-trained Lumiere

But Mongan, whose 11 winners during the 2015 Flat season, accumulated half of the value of the £100,000 Bahrain Trophy, is far from overawed.

The trainer had her confidence boosted by George Baker-ridden Harbour Law’s three-quarter length second to O’Brien’s Sword Fighter in the Listed two-mile Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot when O’Brien’s Bahrain Trophy runner Landofhopeandglory was fourth.

Mongan, whose biggest previous win was with First Avenue in the 2013 Imperial Cup over hurdles at Sandown, said: ‘We went into Royal Ascot knowing we had a lively chance. The fact he was a bigger price was purely because he had my name next to him. If he had come out of a more fashionable yard, I don’t think he would have been the price he was.

‘He went into that race with the best staying form, the same way he does at Newmarket. He is the proven stayer in the field and we are confident about him again.

‘He is a very progressive colt and every run he has had he has improved. We are hoping to see a bit more out of him again.

‘He’d be our best Flat horse by far. He’d be our first runner in a group race. I don’t think the St Leger is out of the question. It’s very exciting.’

Harbour Law is regularly ridden on the Epsom trial grounds by Mongan’s husband Ian, who enjoyed an 18-year career in the saddle during which he formed a strong link with the late Sir Henry Cecil.

It was Cecil, who supplied him with his biggest win on Twice Over in the 2011 Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Mongan said: ‘Ian’s input helps to train all our horses.’

Harbour Law’s biggest threat on paper is Saeed Bin Suroor’s Prize Money, who was second to subsequent Eclipse Stakes winner Hawkbill in the Tercentenary Stakes at the royal meeting. Prize Money, however, will have his stamina tested for the first time.

A strong opening to the three-day Moet & Chandon July Festival, sees the comeback of Mark Johnston-trained Lumiere in the race run in Cecil’s memory.

It is 2015 Cheveley Park Stakes winner’s first run since she was last in the 1,000 Guineas.

John Gosden’s Windsor Castle Stakes winner Ardad heads the field for the Arquana July Stakes while the Princess of Wales’s Stakes offers consistent The Grey Gatsby a chance of a first win since beating Australia in the Irish Champion Stakes in September 2014.