Newmarket Champions Day

The main event on Champions' Day at Newmarket on October 14, the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, is shaping up to be one of the best renewals of recent times, despite the likely absence of last year's hero David Junior, who is being primed for a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Classic, following which he will retire to stud in Japan. In addition to being one of the best renewals, it could also be one of the most fascinating with Derby winner Sir Percy potentially clashing with the second and fourth home in the Arc, Pride and Hurricane Run respectively, while super filly Ouija Board could also take her chance, along with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained duo, Maraahel and Notnowcato. However, the one that appeals most to me at a mouthwatering price of 16/1 with Coral is Hurricane Run's stablemate Manduro, who could come and mow them all down close home. The ex-German-trained colt was a shade disappointing when failing to land the odds in a Group 2 at Longchamp last time, but he is best forgiven that as there was no pace on offer and the race turned into a two-furlong sprint, something which didn't play to his strengths. The Champion Stakes is invariably run at a frenetic pace, and Newmarket's Rowley Mile is far more conducive to Manduro's style of racing than Longchamp where the son of Monsun often finds himself encountering traffic problems. The selection also tends to become outpaced at crucial stages in races at Longchamp, largely owing to the fact that contests there often become tactical - they often crawl for the first three quarters before winding up to a sprint in the short home straight. The straight mile and a quarter at Newmarket will afford Manduro the opportunity to find his stride and, with the going likely to be riding on the soft side of good at HQ on Champions' Day, he will have an awful lot in his favour going into this Group 1 contest. His finishing kick could prove telling once they hit the rising ground on the Rowley Mile. Sir Percy's form couldn't have worked out better. Since we now know that a mile is too sharp for the son of Mark of Esteem, he deserves extra credit for his effort in the 2,000 Guineas, in which he chased home subsequent QEII victor George Washington. Marcus Tregoning's charge came from an uncompromising position to get up in the shadow of the post to land the Derby at Epsom next time, beating Dragon Dancer and Dylan Thomas, who has subsequently bagged the Irish Derby and Champion Stakes. If he is fit enough to do himself justice, Sir Percy will go very close indeed. However, it's a big ask for a horse to return from a 133-day absence and go and win a race of this calibre. All things considered, I feel that the best-priced 9/2 on offer isn't at all generous, and consequently he's worth opposing. At around the same sort of price I'm happy to take on Pride. Runner-up in this race last year, she finished to good effect in the Arc last time, failing by a neck to overhaul Rail Link. Given that the drying ground was against the mare on that occasion, she ran a cracking race to finish so close. But, unless conditions come up very testing, it's debatable whether this drop in trip will suit, a remark which also applies to Hurricane Run. If plenty of use is made of the son of Hurricane Run, as was the case when he ran away with the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh earlier in the season, he could prove extremely dangerous. It has to be said, though, this strong galloper looks vulnerable to a rival that packs a punch at the business end, and he is passed over on that basis. If Ouija Board takes her chance she'll be bang there at the finish. Ed Dunlop's stable star has enjoyed a super campaign this season and lost no caste in defeat when just worried out it by Dylan Thomas close home in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last time out. The fact that Notnowcato and Maraahel fought out the finish to the Group 1 Juddmonte Stakes at York's Ebor meeting, but the fact that Dylan Thomas failed to run his race there casts a cloud of doubt over the form. Indeed, that wasn't a genuine Group 1 renewal of the International and in terms of level of form the value of it is probably tantamount to know more than Group 3 grade. Verdict - 1pt e/w Manudro @ 16/1 (PaddyPower, Coral)