stodge

As for the Cox Plate, while I think VICTORIA ROAD has claims, my eye is drawn to MILITARIZE down the bottom of the weights. The problem is you have to get past a moderate run in the Caulfield Guineas. Further up the weights, MY OBERON ran better in the King Charles III. He ran fourth in the Prince of Wales in 2021 so I think he'll see it well round Moonee Valley. He's 50s up here which is a huge price. GOLD TRIP looked really good in the Turnbull but it's reasonable to suppose ROMANTIC WARRIOR will be cheery ripe after that run and he wasn't far behind. I wasn't so taken with GOLD TRIP last week but he ran another blinder in the Caulfield Cup. Back to the King Charles III and FANGIRL beat MR BRIGHTSIDE, who had previously been a prolific winner. There won't be much between the two but ALLIGATOR BLOOD will also be in the mix even though MR BRIGHTSIDE has beaten him twice this spring. ZAAKI was fourth in this last year and ran best of those coming back for another try. There's no standout horse running to my eye so it's a hard one to call. I'm tempted to give MY OBERON a chance because it's a silly price each way.

Doncaster lost their meeting today but that will probably mean they'll save the Kameko Futurity meeting tomorrow. Inspection at 7.30am but the Clerk is sounding bullish. Newbury haven't been so lucky - they've lost both days of their final Flat meeting. Looking ahead to Sunday - it's Heavy at Longchamp for the final French Group 1 of the season, the Royal Oak over 3100m. 11 go to post - SKAZINO turns up in many of these Frecnch staying races but he's better on decent ground. AL NAYYIR won a Listed over 2800m last time but has to improve. HAYA ZARK was third in the Grand Prix de Deauville but was pitched in at the deep end in the Arc last time and this will be a lot calmer waters. MY idea of the winner is THE GOOD MAN who doesn't have old adversary Sober to worry about. He was second in the Vicontesse Vigier, won the Maurice de Nieuil and was a close third in the Kergorlay so this is his level and we know he stays every inch. The sole 3-y-o is DOUBLE MAJOR who won the Chaudenay last time. That's decent form and he gets 8 lbs from the older horses. As for the British, TASHKHAN will love the ground but his third in the Cesarewitch (a 4000m handicap), although solid, isn't up to this level. NAVAL LEGEND represents James Fanshawe but he's basically a handicapper and was well held in Ireland last time. METIER hasn't been seen since winning the Chester Cup back in May - he's a dual purpose type who will doubtless run over hurdles in the winter ahead. I would be on THE GOOD MAN with DOUBLE MAJOR a big danger. 11 go in The Old Roan at Aintree where the ground is Good to Soft. I've mentioned a few of these already - it's the clash between the early season types who have fitness on their side and the more typcial winter types who are starting their campaigns and in the case of MY DROGO, returning after nearly two years off the track. This is only his third chase but he was a Grade 1 winner at Aintree over hurdles albeit in 2021. These Limited handicaps are always a puzzle - the formlines aren't really there yet but it's a race to watch with the rest of the season in mind.

The coming weekend remains shrouded in uncertainty. The wet spell up here continues and tomorrow's Newbury card has already been lost with Saturday's subject to an inspection at 2pm tomorrow. Earlier confidence at Doncaster was undermined by more rain than expected today and there will be an early inspection for Friday's card at 7.30am. It's getting late in the day to switch the card to Newcastle (Southwell is flooded). Final declarations came through for the Kameko Futurity today and 8 stand their ground including the late supplementing by Godolphin of ANCIENT WISDOM who has immediately become Evens Favourite. He started with two facile wins before coming up short against ROSALLION at Ascot. After over two months off , he returned to Newmarket and won a Group 3 over 1600m by nearly four lengths charging up the hill in style. His bare form is superior to that of DIEGO VELAZQUEZ but I'm not wholly convinced ANCIENT WISDOM will be happy on this really Heavy turf. DIEGO VELAZQUEZ is a half to POINT LONSDALE and BROOME but he's a full to a much more modest type once trained by Richard Hannon. DANCING GEMINI was six lengths behind ANCIENT WISDOM at Ascot but he too won well on his most recent run after a break over 1400m of the Town Moor course but that was in Listed company and he has a little to prove at this trip at Group 1 level. GOD'S WINDOW won a maiden on debut over course and distance at the Leger meeting but this is a big step up. Sunday's racing includes the Royal Oak at Longchamp for which 11 have been entered but we'll get the final field tomorrow. It's also the first significant race of the jump season - the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase at Aintree where the ground is Good to Soft, Soft in places. This 4000m event sets the ball rolling for the winter of Graded chases. HITMAN was second in this last year and ended up third in the Ryanair at Cheltenham. TOMMY'S OSCAR was a decent novice last year and had a nice confidence boosting win at Carlisle a fortnight ago. MIDNIGHT RIVER represents the in-form Skelton yard but the balance of his form last season leaves him with a little to find. More on the Sunday races along with a weather update tomorrow.

Time to mop up last weekend's action with the two juvenile Group 1 races in France on Sunday. The ground at Saint Cloud was very soft as it often is at this time of year. The Criterium de Saint Cloud over 2000m is always a real test for the juveniles. Aidan O'Brien saddled both ILLINOIS (the favourite) and LOS ANGELES and support for the latter in to 9/2 suggested there wasn't too much between them. Aidan's son Joseph saddled ISLANDSOFTHESTREAM who also had serious claims in a race which looked to be dominated by the Irish. Criterium de Saint Cloud: It's not often Ryan Moore gets it wrong when choosing between the Aidan O'Brien horses but this was a tactical success for Christophe Soumillon who knew he needed to be right up against the stands rail at Saint Cloud when the ground is deep. LOS ANGELES wasn't going well on the home turn but up against the rail he found enough in the final 300m to hold ISLANDSINTHESTRAM and ILLINOIS and earn a 20/1 quote for the Derby. I doubt he's in the same parish as CITY OF TROY at home but this was another Group 1 for Ballydoyle and a 1-2-3 for the Irish. ISLANDSINTHESTREAM and ILLINOIS did little wrong in defeat and I'd fancy them to reverse the form on better ground next year. RAMADAN was best of the locals in fourth and the front four were nicely ahead of the remainder. They didn't go a silly gallop on the ground and 2 minutes 15.25 seconds for the 2000m speaks volumes as to the conditions. Back some 400m to the Criterium International. The money came for the Andre Fabre trained ALCANTOR but there was again a strong raiding party including two from Aidan O'Brien (NAVY SEAL and PORTLAND) and SUNRAY from the David Menusier yard. Criterium International: Clearly, Oisin Murphy had been watching the Criterium de Saint-Cloud and realised there was a "golden highway" up the stands rail and the ground lost getting there would be regained in the final 400m and so it proved as SUNWAY ran on too strongly for ALCANTOR who had stayed a little off the rails. Soft ground and the addition of a tongue strap have brought a big improvement in SUNRAY and he goes into the winter a decent juvenile and you'd think on breeding he'd certainly get 2000m. ALCANTOR did little wrong in defeat and I imagine Fabre might still see him as a long term Jockey Club prospect. Christope Soumillon got PORTLAND home in third while Ryan Moore's disappointing afternoon continued on NAVY SEAL.

Champions Day at Ascot has, in its 12 year life, established itself as the defined “climax” of the English season. It’s not Irish Champions Weekend nor is it Arc Day though it resembles the latter more than the former. 30,000 came to Ascot on an unsettled autumn afternoon to watch four Group 1 races and a Group 2 which should really be a Group 1 as well and may be some day. The ground was Soft on the straight course and Good to Soft, Soft in places on the “Inner” Flat track which is basically the course used by the hurdlers in the jumps season. The card opened with the Group 2 Stayers over 3150m, the distance reduced by moving to the inner track. KYPRIOS had dominated the staying division in 2022 but injury had kept him off the track for the better part of a year. His return in the Irish Leger had been satisfactory without being spectacular but he was a strong favourite at 11/10. TRUESHAN had won this race for the past three years and trainer Alan King said he’d have preferred the race to be run on the normal track, but the horse came into the race in really good form having won both the Doncaster Cup and the Cadran at Longchamp. SWEET WILLIAM had run well in defeat at both York (the Ebor) and Doncaster (Cup) and is an improving young stayer but whether he was yet ready to tackle the very best on this ground was debatable. @Bimbo has already posted the video of the race. John Gosden said after the race Frankie had told him there’s no point getting older if you don’t get wiser (sounds like the sort of thing I might say). On a course where he’s known both triumph and disaster this was one of his finest tactical rides and arguably the best judged soft ground Ascot ride since Willie Carson on Bahri. Ryan Moore wasn’t helped by KYPRIOS who basically took 2000m to warm up and I imagine he’d have much preferred to have been closer to Frankie on TRAWLERMAN down the hill and through Swinley Bottom rather than having to make ground uphill which would have used up energy. Nonetheless, 500m out, Moore closed right up and on the crown of the bend went into the lead. This was the second stage of Dettori’s astute ride – instead of panicking and getting after TRAWLERMAN as soon as KYPRIOS passed, he let the horse get round the bend and then began to push him knowing he had some fuel left in the tank while Ryan Moore was on empty at the 200m pole. He also kept TRAWLERMAN wide knowing if KYPRIOS saw his rival he would rally. In the end, the winning distance was a neck but that was all down to Frankie Dettori whose final day could not have started any better. To be fair, he had a willing accomplice in TRAWLERMAN who was third in this last year, had disappointed in both Saudi and Dubai before returning with two facile wins in much lower grade races. With confidence duly boosted, he ran to his absolute best. KYPRIOS is a frustrating horse and perhaps on another day he’d have won. He remains a very good stayer and hopefully he’ll be back as a 6-y-o. He doesn’t have many miles on the clock – this was only his twelfth run – and with a clear preparation he will still be the one to beat in races like the Gold Cup. SWEET WILLIAM was 13 lengths back in third and never got involved. He’s a young horse and should improve next year. It wasn’t TRUESHAN’s day at all – I think he likes to be close to the pace, but he couldn’t get there this time and I just wonder if the Cadran took a lot out of him. COLTRANE was also beaten a long way. A great start from Dettori and one or two started talking about a “Frankie Five” and with plenty of accumulators rolling up on his rides, it was not surprising to see KINROSS backed in to 5/4 for the 1200m Sprint. A decent field turned up, but KINROSS had shown solid form at both 1200 and 1400m this season and while defeat in the Foret was disappointing, still ran well. Doncaster winner MILL STREAM and the useful filly SANDRINE were the next two in the market. Champions Day Sprint: The British bookies were saved millions (apparently) as 40/1 shot ART POWER regained the lead close home and held off the renewed challenge of KINROSS. Much as Dettori earned the plaudits for his ride in the Stayers, so David Allan deserves plenty of credit for this ride. He took ART POWER further over to the far rail and I think he found some better ground while the rest of the field stayed more in the centre where the ground seemed much softer. I think that was the race winning move and enabled ART POWER, better known these days for his exploits at The Curragh, to provide the Easterby stable with their first Group 1 since WINTER POWER took the Nunthorpe. KINROSS ran another huge race in defeat – this time it was Dettori who got caught out. Owner Mark Chan is a good friend of Dettori’s which might explain why they ran here, and I’d be surprised if he went for the Breeders Cup after this. SPYCATCHER was third – a solid run and we know this horse loves soft ground. He didn’t get the best of runs 250m out and just edged out SWINGALONG on whom jockey Sam James tried to do on the stands side what Allan was doing on the far side but the ground advantage just wasn’t the same. MILL STREAM and SANDRINE finished together in midfield having never threatened. The winning time was 1 minute 16.92 seconds – 4.62 seconds over Standard and suggesting the ground was between Soft and Heavy on the straight course. The ground on the Inner Course had been downgraded slightly to Soft following the first race. Race three was the Fillies and Mares over 2350m, again the race shortened slightly by the move to the inside track. This looked a trappy contest with no clear favourite among either the older or the classic generation of fillies. The Aidan O’Brien trained JACKIE OH had finished second in the Opera, but this was her first try at 2400m. She went off 3/1 favourite in front of the older filly TIME LOCK, who loved the ground and would be the last runner sent out by Roger Charlton from Beckhampton, who was passing the licence over to his son, Harry. Also fancied were Dettori’s FREE WIND, despite a couple of modest efforts in recent runs and the Irish Oaks runner up BLUESTOCKING who was sent off at 6s (backed ante post by your correspondent each way at 12s). Champions Day Fillies & Mares: That was a bit annoying. I really thought BLUESTOCKING was coming to win and I was already counting the profit on £10 each way at 12s but it wasn’t to be. My filly just ran out of road, but it was a superb effort on a day when it was already evident front runners were going to be dominant. The effort to make ground on that deep turf left those trying to come off the pace at a huge disadvantage. POPTRONIC made every yard for a second northern win on the day – this time for Karl Burke who is an excellent handler especially but not exclusively of juveniles. A first Group 1 for her young rider Sam James who is making a real name for himself on the northern circuit. POPTRONIC had won the Lancashire Oaks back in the summer but had been well held in both the Yorkshire Oaks and the Royallieu and there was no real hint she would relish the deep ground. Nonetheless, her courage and determination weren’t in short supply, and she held them all at bay. As said, BLUESTOCKING ran a huge race in defeat. It was a closely packed field as they turned for home and while I thought she was far enough back Rossa Ryan got her into top gear, and she ran home strongly much as she had done at The Curragh. JACKIE OH was prominent throughout and looked a likely winner 300m down but I don’t think she quite got home in the ground. ABOVE THE CURVE ran another solid race in fourth to anchor the form – the older fillies were giving the 3-y-o 6 lbs so both winner and fourth have done very well. The two disappointments were FREE WIND who seems to have lost her zest since running in the Hardwicke against the boys and TIME LOCK who wasn’t beaten far but never looked like getting involved. As for future plans, I’ve little clue. I suspect some of these will now head for the paddocks – a Group 1 win to the name doesn’t do the broodmare valuation any harm and what is there left on the racecourse? The placed fillies also now have black type, and they will have plenty of value – I can certainly imagine BLUESTOCKING joining the roster of Juddmonte broodmares and with the stallion firepower at their disposal those making the mating plans for early next year will have plenty to consider. The first of the “big two” races on Champions Day was the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over the straight 1600m. This has in some respects become the main race of the day and slightly overshadows the Champion Stakes in terms of quality. This looked another strong renewal with the winners of the English 2000 Guineas (CHALDEAN), the Irish 1000 Guineas and Coronation (TAHIYRA), the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace, Eclipse and Sussex (PADDINGTON) all turning up against the very useful older filly NASHWA (winner of the Falmouth and placed in the Nassau, Juddmonte and Matron) and the French raider BIG ROCK (second in the Jockey Club, the Marois and the Moulin). PADDINGTON looked physically far better than he had at York and having handled wet ground (rather than deep ground) well at Goodwood was sent off 7/4 favourite with TAHIYRA at 7/2 and both NASHWA and BIG ROCK at 5s while CHALDEAN was friendless. Queen Elizabeth II Stakes: Yet another emphatic front running performance and they finished as strung out as a field of novice chasers in mid-winter. I suspect that rather exaggerates BIG ROCK’s superiority, but he was clearly best on the day and after three big performances in defeat in French Group 1 races got his reward here and paid yet another compliment to Arc winner ACE IMPACT. One might argue perhaps BIG ROCK didn’t quite get home at Chantilly and he’s subsequently shown his optimum trip to be 1600m. The win was also an element of redemption for Aurelien Lemaitre who had a shocker on BLUE ROSE CEN in the Nassau when he was outridden by Ryan Moore but on this occasion, Lemaitre put the British and Irish jockeys to the sword coming home the only one with clean breeches. To add Gallic insult to injury and especially after France’s late exit in the RWC, FACTEUR CHEVAL got up for second on the jam stick, albeit six lengths off the winner. He had chased home PADDINGTON in the Sussex and been only half a length behind BIG ROCK in the Moulin but was decisively beaten by the latter today. TAHIYRA ran a decent race in third – Dermot Weld had expressed pre-race concerns about the ground, but she’s run well in deep ground as a juvenile. I suspect we won’t see her again on a racecourse, but she’ll be another valuable addition to the Aga Khan’s established broodmare empire. After the front three, the rest came in at very wide margins. NASHWA was sixth beaten 25 lengths – for me she was done with at halfway. PADDINGTON was ninth beaten 35 lengths. In some ways, a sad end but the midsummer was his and winning the four Group 1 races is a feat unlikely to be equalled anytime soon. CHALDEAN was tenth, nearly 50 lengths off the winner and whatever went wrong in France has clearly left its mark. The only horse CHALDEAN beat home was HI ROYAL and the last two home in the Queen Elizabeth II were the first two home in the English 2000 Guineas. It’s often my experience the English 2000 Guineas is the credential form race of the season and it’s a source of future Group winners down the season. For some reason this year’s renewal was probably the worst I can recall – yes, it produced a Derby winner in AUGUSTE RODIN though his record since is mixed to say the least. However, overall, it seems the English 3-y-o colt milers have been the worst bunch I can recall and bar PADDINGTON, who was exceptional in early and mid-summer, the Irish haven’t been any better. The French, on the other hand, have produced a stronger 3-y-o crop and the Jockey Club has been if anything the strongest 3-y-o race of the season. The race time was 1 minute 44.58 seconds, a long way over Standard and confirming this was really deep as well as wet ground – officially Soft but the time suggests nearer Heavy. The Champion Stakes is billed as the climax of the Champions Day though it’s not perhaps the race it once was, and I don’t think has benefitted from the move from Newmarket. This year’s renewal was further devalued when John Gosden took out Juddmonte winner MOSTAHDAF – this wasn’t a huge surprise, we know the horse loves quick ground and sporting though Sheikha Hissa is, there was no point running such a quality animal on ground he clearly wouldn’t have liked. That left eight runners with KING OF STEEL, the English Derby runner up, the 3/1 favourite in front of the 2022 winner, BAY BRIDGE, at 7/2. The French challenger HORIZON DORE was next in at 4s. Champion Stakes: Not a dry eye in the house as Frankie Dettori wins on KING OF STEEL and the sense of a horse lifted home by 30,000 spectators. The post-race emotion was there for all to see but let’s not forget the horse. KING OF STEEL had disappointed in the King George and in the Irish Champion had run too free but Dettori produced a masterclass for his final ride. The hood whipped off at the last second, the intentional half miss of the break to get the horse to relax and from there a patient ride until delivering the challenge from 350m down. We know KING OF STEEL barely gets 2400m and didn’t see out an end to end gallop in the King George but a stiff 2000m is his optimum. The horse always gets admiring comments from paddock watchers as a physical specimen and I really hope he stays in training because he could be a really good 4-y-o and it brought AMO Racing back into attention on a day which saw the Group 1 races go outside the usual Godolphin/Coolmore axis. VIA SISTINA ran a blinder in second – there was some comment Oisin Murphy had gone too early and I’m not wholly convinced the filly saw out the stiff 2000m in this ground but the opportunity to win the race was there as the pace collapsed. She may head to the paddocks, I don’t know. HORIZON DORE pulled hard early and that might have cost in the final 200m while POINT LONSDALE looked to be going nowhere on the home turn but ran home well for fourth – I’d love to see this one back to 2400m (he was at one point favourite for the Derby). BAY BRIDGE faded tamely to finish last but only beaten eight lengths – the time was four seconds over standard suggesting they’d gone a sensible pace and quickened off the home turn. An incredible farewell or perhaps au revoir for Dettori – only time will tell. There was perhaps a sense this was such a good farewell it could never be bettered and I now think this is the last we’ll see of him in Britain.

Champions Day extensive review to follow. One or two snippets from up here - first, the sad news the 2022 Derby winner DESERT CROWN has had to be put down after failing to recover from a serious leg injury. He only raced four times - as a juvenile, he won on his only start at Nottingham by five and a half lengths. As a 3-y-o, he was entered for the Dante and put up an impressive performance to win by three and a half lengths after which he was favourite for the Blue Riband at Epsom and once again he was the best on the day beating HOO YA MAL. At that point, the sky seemed the limit with talk of King Georges, Juddmontes and Arcs but he suffered the first of a number of problems and missed the rest of last year. He returned in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown in May going down by half a length to HUKUM who would follow up in the King George. Attempts to get DESERT CROWN to that race and then the Juddmonte were thwarted by continual physical problems culminating in a serious leg injury from which the horse never recovered. He was Nathaniel's most successful son (ENABLE being the most successful daughter) and it's a huge loss he won't even get to be a stallion. Frankie Dettori meanwhile will miss the Melbourne Cup. His two winning Champions Day rides may have been the almost perfect send off to his British career but his use of the whip under the new rules has earned him a 16 day holiday from November 7 to 24. He will still go to Australia and will doubtless find a niche in the media coverage of the Carnival. Weather news and the continuing very wet spell is causing a lot of problems. Yarmouth lost their final meeting of the season and both Southwell and Worcester have been completely flooded with the track and most of the facilities either submerged or suffering water ingress. Southwell is one of the country's Tapeta tracks and has been forced to cancel three synthetic and one grass jump meeting. Doncaster got 55mm of rain last Friday and with further top-ups since the course is currently waterlogged. The Kameko Futurity, the final Group 1 of the British season, is due to take place on Saturday but the course clerk is hopeful the meeting won't need to be moved to a synthetic surface at Newcastle as happened a few years ago. IF the ground dries, it will still be Heavy - 11 have been entered for the Kameko Futurity and early favourite is the unbeaten DIEGO VELAZQUEZ from the Aidan O'Brien yard. He won the Group 2 Juvenile at Leopardstown over Irish Champions Weekend beating stable companion CAPULET (another of five O'Brien entries) and while there is a question on such deep ground, he brings a strong level of form. GOD'S WINDOW won a maiden over course and distance on soft ground and is interesting as is Listed winner DANCING GEMINI. The other big race this weekend is the Royal Oak, France's final Group 1, over 3100m at Longchamp.

Yes, I thought the Caulfield Cup was more like a British race than an Australian race. The usual Quick-Slow-Quick-Quick-Slow of Australian races not evident - a decent end to end gallop. Still very keen on WITHOUT A FIGHT for the big race in a fortnight. Just seen the Cox Plate field - VICTORIA ROAD is a fascinating runner for Aidan O'Brien. He won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf on fast American grass last November and then suffered a series of setbacks which kept him off until Deauville in August when he was seventh to ARC IMPACT, the future Arc winner. He was then third in a Group 2 at Leopardstown over 1600m. The view from Ballydoyle is he needs decent ground and he's ready for 2000m. The colt comes to this fresh and off a rating of 110 - that shouldn't be good enought but could I imagine him running a place? Possibly.

You little ripper !! (as I'm told they say in Antipodean climes). WITHOUT A FIGHT back to form with a vengeance and putting his hat firmly in the Melbourne Cup ring with a strong run through the line. Did Jamie go too early again on WEST WIND BLOWS? Another wonderful run and 2400m certainly no worry but 3200m? GOLD TRIP did his MC aspirations no harm - he was giving 7 lbs to the winner and 10 lbs to the second (that must be near Spencer's minimum weight these days). SOULCOMBE missed the break and got caught in traffic but ran home well enough. I thought HOO YA MAL was cantering all over them 400m out but found nothing in the straight.

As expected, stage two of the autumn deluge arrived last night. Three of today's meetings and two of tomorrow's have already been lost with Market Rasen abandoning after 50mm of rain fell. Newton Abbot and Catterick face morning inspections as do the two Irish cards. It's not been too bad an afternoon in the south and I suspect it will be a fairly clear night but it doesn't dry quickly at this time of year. The independent inspection of Ascot at lunchtime found the Round Course heavy in places so the three races beyond a mile on Champions Day have been moved to the hurdles track. The ground is Soft on the straight course and Good to Soft, Soft in places on the "Inner" Round course. The change in track has led to a shake up in the betting in a couple of races. In the Stayers, KYPRIOS is 6/5 overnight favourite with TRUESHAN at 9/4. FREE WIND and JACKIE OH are 7/2 joint favourites for the Fillies and Mares where the money has come from BLUESTOCKING - I got 10s each way but he's now 13/2. In the Champion, the money has come for Juddmonte winner MOSTAHDAF who has been backed from 6s to 3s while the French HORIZON DORE has walked from 5/2 to 9/2. KING OF STEEL is 4s and BAY BRIDGE 9/2. In the Queen Elizabeth II, NASHWA has been strongly backed from 6s to 3s while PADDINGTON has eased from 10/11 to 9/4. The ground at Saint Cloud is soft ahead of their two Group 1 races on Sunday. Seven go in the Criterium de Saint Cloud over 2000m. Ryan Moore rides ILLINOIS who looks better than LOS ANGELES of the Aidan O'Brien pair. ISLANDSOFTHESTREAM will find this easier than the National but is unproven on this soft ground. BRACKEN'S LAUGH comes off a decent Newbury maiden and could be anything. The best of the locals is probably the Fabre colt CASAPUEBLO. It's going to be a real war (it always is) and only the strongest stayers will survive. Seven also go in the Criterium International over 1600m. Ryan Moore rides NAVY SEAL but the two O'Brien runners don't look good enough. SUNWAY from the David Menusier yard was second in the Champagne on soft ground at Doncaster and while winner IBERIAN was well held in the Dewhurst, SUNWAY seemed to relish the surface. ALCANTOR convincingly beat SAGANTI and HAVANA CIGAR in a Group 3 over course and distance three weeks ago and looks on the upgrade.

Plenty of ex-European gallopers in a very strong Caulfield Cup field tomorrow. 18 set to run and over here they go 11/2 three times with the first three home from the Turnbull re-opposing. GOLD TRIP is 7 lbs worse off for the win but he did it really well. Hopefully Jamie Spencer will be able to hold on to WEST WIND BLOWS a bit longer but I wouldn't be surprised if my old mate SOULCOMBE came and did them both. My idea of the Melbourne Cup winner last year was WITHOUT A FIGHT but I don't think he enjoyed the soft turf. He was a decent sixth in the Underwood last time but could well improve back up in trip. Joseph O'Brien has two runners - the 3-y-o VALIANT KING gets in here with no weight. He's rated 109 up here so borderline Group 3 class. He chased home DESERT HERO, the King's runner, in a warm handicap at the Royal meeting and was then second to VAUBAN (the favourite for the Cup up here) in the Ballyroan at Naas. I didn't think he ran so well in a Group 3 over Irish Champions Weekend and the balance of his form is on slower ground. OKITA SOUSHI is a 5-y-o and alos rated 109. He won another 2400m handicap (the equivalent of the one VALIANT KING was second in but for older horses) at the Royal meeting and was third in the Irish Leger Trial. I'd be surprised if he was good enough first time up to win this. HOO YA MAL was second in the 2022 English Derby and ran some fair races after that and finished upsides WITHOUT A FIGHT at Flemington last November. After some less than distinguished efforts he showed signs of form when second in a Group 2 at Rosehill last time but again this would need another big step forward. The Japanses horse BREAKUP is obviously of interest - he was well behind EQUINOX last time but that's no disgrace. Given the past record of Japanese runners in Austrlaian races he has to be respected.

Sunday sees two Group 1 races in France for the juveniles. The Criterium is the colts and fillies over 2000m and is the only Group 1 for the juveniles over this distance. Three locals take on six raiders with Aidan O'Brien having entered ILLINOIS, CAPULET and LOS ANGELES. ILLINOIS won over 1800m on debut at The Curragh while LOS ANGELES won over 1800m at Tipperary on debut. BRACKEN'S LAUGH won a 1600m maiden at Newbury which often produces a good one. The best of the locals looks to be Andre Fabre's CASAPUEBLO who has won both his starts at Chantilly over 1800m. The Criterium International is over 1600m - Aidan again has three entered but I think the locals have this one with ALCANTOR who has won three of four and looked very good winning a Group 3 over course and distance last time. More on these after final declarations tomorrow.

The first portion of the autumn deluge duly arrived yesterday with 13 mm at Ascot leaving the ground Soft all over. More rain is falling tonight and due tomorrow - could be up to 30mm. The plan is IF an independent inspection on Friday morning finds the ground on the round couurse is now Heavy, the three round course races, the Stayers, Fillies & Mares and Champion Stakes will be moved to the "inner" Flat track (that's the hurdles track to you and me) where the ground is currently Good, Good to Soft in places. Trying to come up with selections against such uncertainty isn't easy but we'll give it a go. Champions Day Sprint (1200m, Straight): 15 stand and with the ground likely to be at best very soft, a number of these are going to struggle. KINROSS won this last year when the ground was better having previously won the Foret. This year's Foret didn't go so well - possibly not one of Frankie's finest hours - but KINROSS still ran home strongly and for all he is better known at 1400m, we know this stiff 1200m suits well. VADREAM loves the heavy ground - she won a Listed at Doncaster earlier in the year by four and a half lengths and in the Palace House (over 1000m) she beat the subsequent Nunthorpe winner LIVE IN THE DREAM. My doubt about her is whether if it gets really deep she'll get home but her claims are obvious. MILL STREAM won twice on soft ground at Deauville in August and was a decent sixth in the Sprint Trophy. I prefer him to SANDRINE whose form is all on quicker ground. ROHAAN is another who has strong course and distance form but in handicap company. It's a bit boring but I can't see beyond KINROSS who seems a solid option. Fillies & Mares (2400m, Round): 14 go and this looks wide open. FREE WIND was fifth in the Hardwicke but disappointed in the mud at Goodwood and I'm not convinced. JACKIE OH has plenty of soft and heavy ground form and was runner up in the Blandford and last time the Opera. She's never gone beyond 2000m and that's a concern on this stiff track. If the races move to the hurdles track, TIME LOCK would have a big chance but I'm not convinced about her on really slow ground. ABOVE THE CURVE has solid placed Group 1 form - third in the Jean Romanet, second in the Nassau and third in the Pretty Polly but she was only sixth in the Vermeille and she's another for whom stamina might be an issue.BLUESTOCKING was turned over at short odds at Chester last time and has been beaten three times by WARM HEART including in the Ribblesdale but got her revenge in the Irish Oaks on soft ground at The Curragh and for me she's the each way call. At a bigger price, the lightly raced SWEET MEMORIES from the Gosden yard could go well - I've backed BLUESTOCKING each way but we need to see on which track and on what ground the race is run. Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1600m, Straight): The race of the day with 11 declared. The 3-y-o seem to dominate with the two Irish Guineas winners - PADDINGTON and TAHIYRA - finally meeting. The former was brilliant in early and mid summer winning the St James's Palace, Eclipse and Sussex but was beaten on quicker ground in the Juddmonte at York. The trip and the ground and especially the face the race is on the straight course all look in his favour, Aidan O'Brien has been talking up his chances and he could return with a win. Dermot Weld has expressed concerns over the ground for TAHIYRA who won the Coronation and the Matron. That puts me off and I can just see her coming up short against PADDINGTON. NASHWA is a fascinating runner - she's arguably better known at 2000m but this stiff mile could suit. I'm less sure about her on deep ground - she finished in front of PADDINGTON in the Juddmonte but that was over 400m and on much quicker ground. BIG ROCK slammed Champion Stakes favourite HORIZON DORE five and a half lengths at Chantilly in May but both have moved onwards and upwards since. BIG ROCK chased home Arc winner ACE IMPACT (now retired) in the Jockey Club, followed up with a second to INSPIRAL (taken out of this due to the ground) in the Marois and was second again in the Moulin. It all reads well but the Moulin was a weak Group 1 and I'm not convinced. The most interesting runner is 2000 Guineas CHALDEAN who did it really well on slow ground at Newmarket in May. He was no match for PADDINGTON in the St James's Palace and then ran poorly in the Jean Prat. He's lightly raced, fresh and if he can recapture his spring form is entitled to be right in this. I've not played as there are too many ifs, buts and maybes - PADDINGTON would win this if back to his midsummer best and the ground and trip hold no fears. BIG ROCK should go close and I expect a strong run from CHALDEAN. Champion Stakes (2000m, Round): 9 go to post and this looks far from straightforward. The French colt HORIZON DORE is narrow favourite having won his last four including the Dollar last time. I imagine deep ground won't be an issue but he's never run in a Group 1 and that concerns me. KING OF STEEL was runner up in the English Derby, followed up in the King Edward VII beating the subsequent Leger winner and then was third in the King George and a close and arguably unlucky fourth in the Irish Champion. On the Inner track, he'd be my selection but I'd be less certain on slower ground. BAY BRIDGE won this last year beating ADAYAR and this season he's performed with credit for all he was sixth in the Arc. I'm not convinced 2400m is his trip and I think back at this trip he has real claims. MOSTAHDAF would be a short price favourite on decent ground but the truth is while he did win a Listed on Soft in 2021, he was stone cold last of 20 in the 2022 Arc. On the Inner Track he'd have a much better chance. VIA SISTINA won the Pretty Polly in Ireland but it's hard to see her beating the boys. It's been a long time since MY PROSPERO was an unlucky third in the St James's Palace and he was well beaten in the Juddmonte. Another race arguably dependent on the surface - if we move to the inner track KING OF STEEL looks to have a chance but I think BAY BRIDGE is the percentage call. The opening Group 2 Stayers has just 8 runners and it looks a straight fight between KYPRIOS and TRUESHAN. The former put up a decent return in the Irish Leger and comes here fresh while TRUESHAN won the Doncaster Cup and the Cadran. You'd be on KYPRIOS on the ratings and I'm sure Aidan O'Brien has overseen plenty of improvement but I expect an epic battle to start the day. Selections: 1.15 - Stayers: KYPRIOS 1.50 - Sprint: KINROSS 2.25 - Fillies & Mares - BLUESTOCKING (each way) 3.00 - QEII: PADDINGTON 3.35 - Champion: BAY BRIDGE

News today of the retirement of King George winner HUKUM, the full brother of last year's champion BAAEED. HUKUM is going to Darley Japan which is an interesting move. HIs other Group 1 win was in this year's Coronation and while the Arc didn't go as many hoped due to the dry ground, HUKUM's clash with WESTOVER remains one of the highlights of the season. He's rated 127 which speaks volumes. Two fine days and a strong drying wind have left Ascot's Straight Course Good to Soft and the Round Course Soft, Good to Soft in places. Heavy rain is forecast tomorrow and Friday so we'll have to see who decides to take their Champions Day chance on Thursday.

The second and final day of the Future Champions Meeting took place on a cold but fine autumn afternoon. Another deluge of rain (15mm) had fallen but the ground remained Soft thanks to a strong drying wind and the Heath's excellent drainage. Ryan Moore rode in the first and declared the ground safe for CITY OF TROY to take his chance in the Dewhurst. He was backed in to 8/15 and looked magnificant in the paddock. His principal local opponents looked to be Champagne winner IBERIAN and Tattersalls winner ALYANAABI. Nonehteless, CITY OF TROY was well fancied after his romp in the Superlative on the July Course which he'd won by six and a half lengths and the continued and highly bullish comments from Aidan O'Brien. Dewhurst Stakes: The superlatives were in abundance as CITY OF TROY demolished perhaps not the strongest Dewhurst field ever assembled by making every yard. Ground concerns were allayed but as O'Brien said in one of his many post-race interviews "he may not have tractor tyres but he has a jet engine". He also let slip the horse has never got tired and that's something you don't often hear. Jockey Ryan Moore was fulsome in his praise describing him as "one of the best 2-y-o I've ever ridden" and given his associations with O'Brien and Sir Michael Stoute, that's also noteworthy. In truth, CITY OF TROY was never challenged - his principal market rival, IBERIAN, was beaten at the bottom of the hill and in fact the first three 500m were the first three home which just makes me wonder if it was a day and a track for frontrunners. ALYANAABI chased the winner in vain and ran a creditable second - he probably didn't love the ground either. The Gosden outsider EBAN SHADDAD was a decent third in front of HENRY ADAMS, the O'Brien second string and it's interesting to note, having beaten HAATEM six and a half lengths in July, the gap was eight and a half lengths today. Bookie reaction was predictable - CITY OF TROY is 5/4 favourite for the 2024 2000 Guineas and 5/2 favourite for the Derby on June 1st next year. As to whether he'll have a prep before the 2000 Guineas, I suspect not unless it's a dry spring and the ground is decent.

It sounds like what we have up here with ITV (main channel, free to air) showing two hours of racing before cutting over to the Wales-Argentina QF. The racing switched to ITV4 (Freeview channel, not Sky) for the rest of the races (9 races, 5 from Newmarket, 4 from York) so that was three and a half hours of coverage. The specialist racing channels did their usual coverage. Premierisation next year will mean more mainstream coverage especially on Sundays which will hopefully allow more top French and Irish races to be shown on free to air.

All roads lead to Ascot this Saturday for Champions Day. The meeting is already getting plenty of attention being billed not so much as Frankie's Farewell (just in case he fetches up to the Royal meeting next year) but a Thank You Frankie celebration. There are already however issues with the ground - after last week's heavy rain the ground is officially Soft on both the Straight and Round courses but may go Good to Soft on the Straight course tomorrow. The problem is another 15-20mm of rain is forecast from Wednesday and while nothing can be done about the straight course, the contingency of running the round course races on the hurdles track is already being mooted (this was last used in 2019). The jumps course is being prepared for the opening Ascot jumps fixture in early November but is still basically Good ground. A final decision can be made as late as 8am on Saturday but I suspect the Ascot authorities will want to make the position clear for everyone on Thursday or Friday morning. We have the 5-day entries for the four Group 1 races. Champions Day Sprint (1200m, Straight): 18 have been entered but the betting makes it a straight battle between 1400m specialist and Foret runner up KINROSS and the Commonwelath Cup and July Cup winner SHAQUILLE who flopped at Haydock last time. KINROSS has run well in this on soft ground but if it comes up really deep, VADREAM is a proven mudlark and I've backed her at 20s each way and will be doing the required rain dance. Champion Fillies & Mares (2400m, Round): Subject to which course this is run on, it looks wide open. Opera runner up JACKIE OH is interesting but VIA SISTINA was a fine second in the Romanet on slow ground and the step up in trip is an interesting move. However, my selection at this stage is BLUESTOCKING who was a close second in the Irish Oaks on soft ground. Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1600m, Straight): The soft ground has caused INSPIRAL to drift like the proverbial barge and the betting suggests it's between PADDINGTON, TAHIYRA and the older NASHWA. All are multiple Group 1 winners - at this stage I'd prefer TAHIYRA. Champion Stakes (2000m, Round): The ground has probably gone against MOSTAHDAF and to an extent KING OF STEEL. BAY BRIDGE won this last year and was a fine sixth in the Arc. The French 3-y-o HORIZON DORE will love the ground and won the Dollar last time but this is a big step up. However, this field may, as has happened in recent years, cut up badly in comparison with the Queen Elizabeth II. The Group 2 Stayers over 3200m is arguably the race of the day. KYPRIOS was second on his belated return in the Irish Leger and as he comes to this fresher than most has a big chance. TRUESHAN went through a quiet spell but has won the Doncaster Cup and the Cadran and we know loves soft turf. SWEET WILLIAM was second at Doncaster but i:m less convinced he'll like the ground while COLTRANE put in an unusually moderate effort at Doncaster and is on a recovery mission.

This story was even top news feature on the Racing Post up here this morning so it's brought some publicity to Australian/New Zealand racing. Perhaps we could do the same with one of the Champions Day races this weekend.

The first day of the Future Champions Festival took place on Friday at Newmarket. The forecast heavy rain duly arrived - a total of 31mm - but though the ground was officially Soft, they were getting through it well and aided by a tailwind the times weren't too bad. The feature Group 1 Fillies' Mile looked wide open - they went 10/3 twice at the top of the betting bringing in the Sandown maiden winner CLASSICAL SONG and the Rockfel runner up SHUWARI. Close behind in the betting were the Ballydoyle representative YLANG YLANG who had run third in the Rockfel and May Hill runner up SEE THE FIRE. Fillies Mile: A real war of attrition run at an end to end gallop in increasingly windy conditions which probably weren't what the juvenile fillies really wanted or liked. I thought for a moment SEE THE FIRE had mastered SHUWARI and come to win the race but Ryan Moore got a good run out of YLANG YLANG up the hill and in the end she won a shade cosily though there wasn't much between the front three. I still think SEE THE FIRE is a serious middle distance prospect for next year. The winner is by Frankel out of a Shamardal mare so perhaps 2000m will be her optimum. The front two reversed places from the Rockfel but that was run on much quicker ground. I thought SHUWARI ran very well again and obviously she's going to have classic aspirations but I think the third might improve past them both over the winter. The supporting Group 2 Challenge over 1400m cut up to just four and the two Irish 3-y-o beat the more fancied older English horses. MATILDA PICOTTE made every yard and run sub 11 seconds for both 1000-1200m and 800-1000m after which she slowed down (not surprisingly) but the damage was done. AUDIENCE looked ill at ease on the ground and CHINDIT has never really liked the Rowley Mile so this might have been a soft Group 2 but to be fair she had run third in the 1000 Guineas over the same course, albeit eight lengths off MAWJ and TAHIYRA, both of whom look to be exceptional fillies.

He did it very well yesterday. Ryan kept it simple and clearly they had no concerns about the soft ground. It probably wasn't the strongest Dewhurst there has ever been but he could only beat what was put in front of him. Aidan thinks a lot of him and you'd imagine the Guineas and Derby would be the objectives. If you want an honest view - too early to tell. We've had any number of top juveniles who didn't go on as 3-y-os because the physical advantage they enjoyed as juveniles was eroded over time. It's also fair to argue some very good juveniles have gone on to be champions as 3-y-o. He's an exciting prospect and he's in good hands but only time will tell if he is the real deal.

I still owe you the review of last Saturday's Sun Chariot at Newmarket. The race is for fillies and martes over the straight 1600m and looked on paper a straight match between the improving French 3-y-o MQSE DE SEVIGNE who had won both the Rothschild and the Jean Romanet at Deauville and the Gosden filly INSPIRAL who had failed on the atrocious ground at Goodwood in the Sussex but had bounced back with a good win in the Marois. Sun Chariot Stakes: 500 career winners for the not-quite-retiring Frankie Dettori - 282 on the Rowley Mile and 218 on the July Course (the July Cup remains the one British Group 1 Dettori has never won). In truth, this was an easy win - on this decent ground INSPIRAL is very good and was far too good for these. She can mix it with the boys at the highest level - placed this season in the Queen Anne. She doesn't like extremes of ground - not many good horses do - but on sensible turf she's a class act and obviously will be a highly valuable broodmare for Cheveley Park when the time comes for her to go to the paddocks. I presume she'll have another go at the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot on Champions Day. - she's 8/1 fourth choice. PADDINGTON is 15/8 favourite, TAHIYRA 11/4 and NASHWA 5s. If they all turn up, it's going to be a race to savour. MQSE DE SEVIGNE didn't look happy on the ground but stuck on well up the hill and I'm sure on a softer surface she'll pick up plenty more good prizes. HEREDIA won a Group 3 on her previous run and this was another step forward - she's come to hand quite late on and I hope they'll keep her in training as a 5-y-o but of course she now has the black type so I suspect she'll be heading to the paddocks as well.

There were arrests at the Grand National meeting when protesters trespassed on to the course and tried to disrupt the race. I believe 118 were arrested and charged. 31 were arrested before the Derby and one man who again got on to the course was given a suspended prison sentence.

Another huge Saturday in Australia with stellar cards at both Randwick and Caulfield. At the former, ALCOHOL FREE goes in the 1200m Everest worth just shy of £4 million to the winner and the richest race run on turf in the world. She did win the 2022 July Cup but Newmarket, straight and with an uphill finish, isn't Randwick and I'd be astonished if she had the pace to win this. She's 33s over here and that seems about right. More European and ex-European interest in the King Charles III. LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (the MAN added in Australia) is a solid Group 1 performer up here with placed efforts in the Ispahan, Queen Anne and the Marois. I just wonder if he'd appreciate a drop of rain - I also think his best form is more than 1600m on a round course and he gets a straight 1600m really well. I just don't see him having the tactical pace of some of these. BUCKAROO was behind LIGHT INFANTRY MAN in the Ispahan and last time was second in a Group 2 at Leopardstown. If that is good enough to win this, I'd be surprised but I could see him nicking a place. It looks as though MR BRIGHTSIDE will be hard to beat. At Caulfield, the ex-French CARINI has a big chance in the Group 2 Herbert Power. JUST FINE was a handicapper when trained by Sir Michael Stoute but Gai Waterhouse has, as usual, brought out a lot of improvement but the Metropolitan was over 2400m and I'm not convinced back in trip on levels is ideal. ALENQUER has done nothing since coming to Australia. ALLIGATOR BLOOD has form with MR BRIGHTSIDE and looks a solid option.

Future Champions Weekend kicks off at Newmarket tomorrow - the ground remains officially Good to Firm, Good in places but heavy rain is forecast tomorrow and into Saturday so that complicates matters somewhat. 8 go in the Fillies' Mile - SHUWARI and YLANG YLANG were second and third in the Rockfel a fortnight ago but with over two lengths between them, I don't see why the places should be reversed. CLASSICAL SONG comes off a decent win in a Sandown maiden and she's no doubt improving but my idea of the winner is SEE THE FIRE who was on only her second start when beaten by DARNATION (disappointing in the Marcel Boussac) in the May Hill. She's another who could well be improving fast and brings decent Group 2 form to the table. The supporting Group 2 Challenge over 1400m has just six runners. AUDIENCE chased home KInross at York and Sandrine at Doncaster in Group 2 races and brings solid form. I think the race fit SHOULDHAVEBEENARING is an interesting option - second in the Group 1 Sprint Trophy at Haydock and a close third in the Foret means he's closely matched with AUDIENCE on a line through Kinross. Aidan O'Brien took out four of his six entries for Saturday's Group 1 Dewhurst at the final acceptance stage this morning. CITY OF TROY stands and is 4/9 to maintain his unbeaten record and establish himself as champion juvenile. IBERIAN looked good at Doncaster but was beaten a length by HAATEM at Goodwood while CITY OF TROY beat HAATEM six and a half lengths at Newmarket so IBERIAN's task on the form is considerable.

It's been a busy midweek with three huge news stories which I'll tackle in turn. First, the less than surprising news Frankie Dettori's "retirement" will be delayed. Dettori has been on a "farewell tour" this summer at all the big meetings and enjoying huge popularity and success. One or two actively asked if this really was the end and until now Dettori had said it was. However, this morning Dettori has said he will continue riding for the first half of 2024 in southern California - he's looking to re-locate there and is after a big ride in the Kentucky Derby next May. He will be based out of Santa Anita from January and will be hoping trainers like Bob Baffert give him some opportunities. He hasn't entirely ruled out coming over to Royal Ascot in 2024 either but I suspect his non-American appearances will be few and far between. Second big story this morning is or are changes to the Grand National. The field will be reduced to 34 (from 40) and the entry level rating raised from 125 to 130. The first fence will be moved nearer the start (which will now be a standing start). This is to reduce the speed of horses going into the first fence which has increased from 28 mph to 35 mph in the past decade. One of the fences down the back will be trimmed back from 5 foot to 4 foot 10 inches. Is this a gesture towards the animal rights mob? If it is, it's futile as nothing short of completely stopping the race (and all other horse races) will satisfy them. I'm also not wholly convinced - better horses will help but in jump racing speed kills and quick horses going fast into fences on decent ground is where the problems start. There are also plans to start the race back between 3 and 4 pm instead of 5.15pm and to water the course more extensively to prevent the ground getting too quick. Third big news story this week has been the release of the 2024 fixture list. 1,468 fixtures (down about 30) will take place in 2024 but, and this will be familiar to NZ racegoers, the UK has now adopted Premierisation. 180 of the biggest fixtures have been afforded "Premier" status with commitments on race quality and prize money to match. No real surprises - the big Festivals plus two cards each Saturday. The aforementioned Premier cards will race with just one non-core meeting between 2 and 4pm leaving other cards to race at other times so we have half a dozen Saturday morning meetings and some "late afternoon" Saturday meetings. One or two of the smaller tracks have protested and it looks as though the Premier rules won't be fully applied on some Saturdays. There's roughly 2 Flat meetings for every jump card and some of the autumn and spring jumps cards which had poor field sizes have been scrapped. We'll see how this works - the summer will be interesting.

I'll reflect on INSPIRAL's win in the Sun Chariot next time. Looking further ahead, it's going to be a huge Saturday with a general election, one of the biggest races in the world and a decent card at Newmarket for good measure. I'll say nowt about the election and I'll muse on the Everest and the other big Randwick races later in the week. Newmarket races for the third weekend in a row and stages Future Champion Weekend - a series of juvenile championship races for both colts and fillies and this explains why there are no 2-y-o races on Champions Day. The ground is currently Good to Firm but the extended summer spell is set to end on Wednesday evening and a lot of rain is forecast both Thursday and Friday before drier, colder conditions move in for the weekend. Friday sees the Fillies Mile which rather explains itself. NIne have been entered and all are winners. Early favourite is SHUWARI who was second in the Rockfel a fortnight ago. The winner is highly regarded and I can see why she is fancied. Aidan O'Brien has entered three - YLANG YLANG flopped when favourite for the Moyglare and was just behind SHUWARI last time. I'm more interested in OPERA SINGER who was very good in the Marcel Boussac and if repeating that will take a lot of beating. Newmarket is a million miles from Longchamp in configuration iof nothing else. SEE THE FIRE was well held on soft ground in the May Hill but could be much better on some decent turf while CLASSICAL SONG looked good in a Sandown maiden but this is a big step up on that level. The supporting Group 2 is the Challenge, the last race of significance for the 1400m types. AUDIENCE chased home KINROSS at York and SANDRINE at Doncaster but with neither of the last named in the field, must have a big chance of getting the Group race his form suggests he can manage. CHINDIT is better known as a miler these days but ran well enough when third in the Hungerford. The one to topple the favourite might be the hard raced SHOULDHAVEBEENARING who has danced most of the main dances this season. He was second in the Sprint Trophy at Haydock and confirmed his Group 1 credentials with a close third to KELIMA in the Foret last time. He brings Group 1 form to a Group 2 race and he's my idea of the winner. Saturday's Group 1 Dewhurst has been moved to the second race of the card to accommodate free-to-air terrestrial coverage. 12 have been entered but the strong favourite is CITY OF TROY who is 2/5 with most firms. He was impressive on debut and even more so at Newmarket in the Superlative coming home by six lengths. If we had serious rain he won't run but he'll go fine on decent ground and Aidan has made nos ecret of how highly he regards this colt. I'm not saying he's past the post but I can't see Champagne winner IBERIAN being good enough. It'll be fascinating to see if HENRY LONGFELLOW, who dotted up in the National last time, runs as he might be the biggest threat to the favourite. ARRAY won the Mill Reef and might be the place (not pace) angle but with Aidan O'Brien entering six of the twelve runners we'll get a clearer idea of the shape of this race once the Ballydoyle maestro chooses which cards he's palying.