While Enable and Magician, first and second at last year's Breeders Cup, look set to Eclipse their rivals at Sandown, I'm hoping it's also a case of friends reunited at Haydock with FIRST ELEVEN and KLASSIQUE.
Both these horses have done us a good turn in recent weeks and, while First Eleven has gone up 5lb for winning at York in May, he may well prove classy enough to defy top weight and justify likely favouritism in the bet365 Old Newton Cup.
That York run looks very strong now with Fujaira Prince (second), Corgi (third) and Collide (fourth) filling third, fourth and fifth in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot subsequently while Caliburn (fifth at York) won next time at Pontefract.
First Eleven was almost certainly an unlucky loser at last year's Royal meeting but made amends on a return to Ascot in September and this superbly-bred son of Frankel (a half brother to Kingman) has a great attitude and looks open to further improvement.
Robert Havlin's mount is not so well drawn on the outside but a fast gallop looks likely.
In the bet365 Lancashire Oaks, Klassique returns to the scene of her most recent victory when a decisive three-length winner of the Group Three Pinnacle Stakes from the well-fancied Willie Mullins-trained True Self.
Despite her trainer William Haggas's reservations, the daughter of Galileo (out of top class race-mare Cha Cha Mai Dee) handled the heavy ground conditions that day without a problem under Danny Tudhope and she may be progressive enough to turn the tables on Enbihaar (second since to Dramatic Queen at York) who had beaten her previously at Goodwood.
Dramatic Queen is a stable-mate of the selection but, significantly perhaps, Tudhope who rode her at York sticks with Klassique.
Back at Sandown, a bit of each-way is suggested on RUM RUNNER in the Coral Challenge Handicap.
Richard Hannon's charge boasts two wins from three visits to the Esher course and finished eighth (beaten just over five lengths) in this race last year when ridden aggressively from the start to overcome a wide draw.
Now 6lb lower, and off the same mark as when successful over seven furlongs here last June, Rum Runner promised to stay a mile well when ridden with much more restraint at Goodwood last time and, from another high draw, will surely be dropped in early this time by jockey Martin Dwyer.
Posted at 1155 BST on 05/07/19
