Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 1m 26.25s

(2)

Breacher¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 101| D

10/1

Picked up really well to become a rare first-time-out winning 2-y-o for the stable in 8-runner maiden at Salisbury (7f) in June, forging clear. Left that form well behind when length third of 8 in Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown (7f, soft) 2 weeks ago and can progress further.

Form: 13

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(5)

Desert Castle³⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Loughnane| T: C Appleby| D

1/1

Frankel colt. Brother to 7f-9f winner Dream Castle and winner up to 1¼m With The Moonlight, both smart. Looked something out of the ordinary when making a winning start with loads in hand in 8-runner maiden at Newmarket (7f) 36 days ago. Exciting prospect who is open to stacks of improvement.

Form: 1

(6)

Gentle Hurricane²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding| OR: 106

5/1

€105,000 purchase who was well on top at the finish when making a winning debut in 5-runner Salisbury novice (6f) and quickly took his form up to a useful level when 2 lengths second of 10 to the promising Haffner in Acomb Stakes (7/2) at York (7f). Type to go on improving.

Form: 12

(3)

Sergei Diaghilev³⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100| BF

5/2

Debut winner who came home only ninth in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot (6f) but proved a different proposition stepped up to 1m at Gowran since, responding well to see off 5 rivals in a good-ground listed race. Back down in trip but should continue to progress.

Form: 191

(1)

Silver Dominion²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: Oliver Cole| OR: 101| D

33/1

Prevailed in a 3-way photo on his 6.5f Newbury debut. Stepped up considerably on that form when fourth of 7 in Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket (7f) and has run to a similar level when runner-up on both subsequent starts but lacks the potential of a few of these.

Form: 1422

Non-Runners

(4)

Rosberg²¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 2

T: K R Burke J: C Lee

Forecasts

Desert Castle (1/1), Sergei Diaghilev (5/2), Gentle Hurricane (5/1), Rosberg (8/1), Breacher (10/1), Silver Dominion (33/1)

DESERT CASTLE created a most favourable impression when making an impressive winning start to his career at Newmarket last month and, open to oodles of improvement, he's fancied to overcome the rise in grade and keep his unbeaten record intact. Gentle Hurricane ran a cracker in the Acomb considering his inexperience and appeals as the type to go on progressing, while promising Ballydoyle colt Sergei Diaghilev is another serious contender commanding plenty of respect.