Midnite Churchill Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 2m 20.52s

(4)

Dubai Honour^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 118

5/2

Four-time Group 1 winner, with the latest gained in Australia in April. Creditable head second of 7 to Convergent in Longchamp Group 2 last month. Likely to give it his usual good shot.

Form: 2-12422

(2)

Shader^p²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 110| C

4/9

Has come a long way in only 5 career starts, producing a highly impressive performance when extending his unbeaten AW record to 3 in 1½m Kempton listed event 25 days ago, pulling 9 lengths clear. Hard to beat.

Form: 311-31

(1)

Palazzo Blu⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Marco Ghiani| T: M Botti| OR: 94| C

16/1

Useful colt. Career best when winning 11-runner handicap (6/1) at this course (1½m) 68 days ago, well on top finish. That made it 3-3 on AW but another jolt of improvement will be needed if he's extend that 4 in this significantly higher grade.

Form: 218501

(3)

Royal Playwright²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 106

16/1

Finally added to debut win last summer when landing odds in 3-runner conditions stakes at Goodwood 38 days ago. Creditable fifth in a 1¼m Newmarket listed event since but it underlines he needs a bit more at this level.

Form: 945315

Non-Runners

(5)

Universal Story⁸

Weight: 8-13| Age: 4

T: J Candlish J: George Wood

Forecasts

Shader (4/9), Dubai Honour (5/2), Royal Playwright (16/1), Palazzo Blu (16/1), Universal Story (200/1)

If SHADER is in the same form as when romping home in a Kempton listed event at the beginning of the month even a horse of Dubai Honour's quality will do well to concede 4 lb to him.