Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 23.92s

(6)

Dark Vision⁴⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 113| D

5/1

Arrives here unbeaten after a very impressive win in Group 2 class at Goodwood last time out, making good headway from the rear. More on his plate here, particularly conceding a penalty, but he has any amount of improvement in him.

Form: 111

(2)

Van Beethoven⁴⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104

14/1

Looked like a smart prospect when winning the Railway Stakes at the Curragh but has failed to build on that in two subsequent starts. Yard back in better form now but has work on to reverse the Goodwood form with Dark Vision from last time.

Form: 124175

(1)

Bye Bye Hong Kong²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding

20/1

Improved from debut to win a novice event at Windsor but this is a very different test and hard to imagine him finding the requisite improvement to trouble the principles here on just his third start. Yard in form.

Form: 31

(4)

Cardini¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 97| BF| D

40/1

Off the mark at the sixth attempt when winning at the Curragh in handicap company last time. Big step up in class here though and may be in the line up to ensure a strong gallop for his stablemate.

Form: 855221

(3)

Phoenix Of Spain²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C Hills| OR: 109| D

8/1

Very impressive when winning a seemingly strong renewal of the Acomb Stakes (Group 3) last time out at York. It would be no surprise to see him improve again here but unproven with any cut in the ground.

Form: 411

(5)

Too Darn Hot¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 116| D

4/11

Beautifully bred and arrives here with an unbeaten record after a pair of Sandown wins, most recently when justifying favouritism in a Group 3. Did that in some style and it makes him the one to beat here.

Form: 11

Forecasts

Too Darn Hot (4/11), Dark Vision (5/1), Phoenix Of Spain (8/1), Van Beethoven (14/1), Bye Bye Hong Kong (20/1), Cardini (40/1)

A couple of these arrive with unbeaten records to defend and it's TOO DARN HOT who makes most appeal. He could hardly have been more impressive at Sandown last time and while this is tougher, it's likely he's improved in the interim. Dark Vision can't be ruled out after his impressive Group 2 win at Goodwood last time but conceding a penalty to the selection won't be easy. Phoenix Of Spain was impressive last time at York and he's another who can't be ruled out with further progress on the cards.