13.15 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup

Trawlerman 

The opener is the Champions Long Distance Cup and although Kyprios, Trueshan and Coltrane are in the field, don’t be put off the chances of TRAWLERMAN, available at 20/1 with Bet365 (14/1 generally), who is unbeaten in two starts this year and is worth another shot at this race despite being unproven on soft ground.

He ran very well when third in this race last year behind Trueshan, beaten around and has clearly improved buckets since. Based on recent evidence, I think the only way this horse can win this is if ridden positively, similar to last time, and then hope Frankie can consume enough of his energy for the latter stages.

Last year’s Ebor winner has plenty to find with the market leaders on ratings but he is progressive, hasn’t put a foot wrong this year and has been targeted at this race by connections. Frankie has enjoyed plenty of success in these silks in Britain and I am sure he will try his best to get this horse in the mix.

15:05 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Chaldean

Classic winner CHALDEAN, available at 11/1 across the oddschecker grid, will make his return to action in the QEII and will be reunited with Frankie Dettori, whose association with the horse led to victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket before only finding Paddington too good when second in the St James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal Meeting, his only previous visit here.

He was undoubtedly disappointing when only seventh in the Prix Jean Part last-time-out, having been sent off an odds-on favourite, but he has been given plenty of time to recover and hopefully the return to a mile will see him show his true colours. The last time he ran over the distance, he produced his career-best win at HQ.

This is an extremely deep renewal with Tahiyra, Paddington, Big Rock and Nashwa in the line-up but Andrew Balding’s runner is seemingly the forgotten horse, according to the market at least, and he cannot be taken lightly on the back one below-par run. At a double-figure price, he does offer some value to potentially spoil the party.

15:45 QIPCO Champion Stakes

King Of Steel 

In his farewell ride on the card, Frankie Dettori will team up with Derby runner-up KING OF STEEL  in the Champion Stakes, a general 4/1 chance via oddschecker, as he bids to conclude an action-packed afternoon in Berkshire with a Group 1 Triumph.

This athletically, well-built Colt, who was narrowly denied Derby glory on just his third career start by Auguste Rodin at Epsom, dominated the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot before running with credit in both the King George and the Irish Champion Stakes.

Reportedly in prime condition and having trained very well in the build up to this weekend’s race, Roger Varian’s three-year-old must have leading claims back at the scene of his biggest win so far, even with International Stakes and Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winner Mostahdaf in the field.

Heading up the other list of dangers include French raider Horizon Dore, defending champion Bay Bridge and Pretty Polly winner Via Sistina but there’s every chance this high-class horse will provide Frankie with a fairytale success and if doing so, I am sure a thundering ovation from the crowd will be imminent.