bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3)

Smart handicapper who has made the step-up into Listed and Group company winning at St Cloud (Listed) in September over this distance. Ran respectably after that in a Group 2 on his final start of the year and makes his seasonal reappearance here (has run well fresh) in what looks quite a tough contest for the grade.

Entered in a stack of Group races over a mile and 1m2f and showed his best form when winning a Group 1 at Belmont last year (benefitted from a good ride) after being well beaten the Derby. Looked as though he would come on for the run when reappearing this year in a Group 1 at Meydan and likely to do better this time over a trip that suits coming from a powerful yard.

The form that he's shown in handicaps can be described as smart with a win off a mark of 100 at Newmarket being the pinnacle of his handicap form so far. Has been placed in a Listed race but ran poorly on his final start of the season back in a handicap and this looks a tough opener to his season.

Lightly-raced sort (only had 6 races) whose sole win so far came in a Leicester maiden (7f) when he was a juvenile. Took a steep rise in class after that when he was placed in the Royal Lodge and the Dante (first start as a three-year-old) but disappointed (ran too free) on his only subsequent start last year. May well be capable of better yet but does need to settle better in his races.

Showed the benefit of his progressive three-year-old career when winning this last year on his seasonal debut (has run well twice off long breaks). Perhaps a little fortunate to win at Group 1 level (Prince of Wales's Stakes) at Royal Ascot when the race was run to suit which allowed him to show his turn of foot but ultimately deserved his win. Ran creditably in the highest grade after that without winning but has to be respected here given his history although he might just prefer a little more cut in the ground.

Could well be flying a little high here having been found out in Listed company and this is far tougher than that. Finished well beaten on his seasonal return in a Group 3 in France and an unlikely winner here at this level.

Stable won this in 2012 and 2015 with four-year-olds and this one looks a similar sort having won on his only start as a juvenile and showed useful form to take a Group 3 over 1m2f in August. Very much an improving sort as a three-year-old and the type to improve with another year behind him. The tongue-tie worn for his last win goes back on here and given his history he's very much one to enter the equation here.

Not unknown for one from this yard to improve markedly from three to four and they have a good record in this race. This one has already shown some good form as a three-year-old winning the Gordon Stakes (Group 3) over 1m4f at Goodwood and bettering that effort without winning with a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita in November. Did win his maiden at 1m2f but suspicion is that he might just be little better over further.