Sam King is back with three selections on Friday.
William Buick stole the headlines yesterday when riding his 2,000th British winner on El Cordobes and quickly proved he was in no mood to slow down when completing a treble later on the card.
As so often is the case at this meeting, the Buick and Appleby team look to hold a strong hand once more this afternoon and they could kick things off in the perfect fashion thanks to King's Charter, who appears potentially well-treated off this opening mark of 92 in the 1.50.
Gelded over the winter, the son of Kingman returned to action with a dominant performance in a novice event at Doncaster, travelling strongly before seeing it out the mile well.
He shaped as though there should be plenty more to come from him once stepped up to a mile and a quarter, while Newmarket's stiff finish should also play to his strengths.
The form of his two efforts as a juvenile also holds plenty of substance as he finished a highly promising third behind George Scott's subsequent Group 2 Champagne Stakes winner Bay City Roller, who is now rated 110, over seven furlongs at Sandown on debut. He subsequently went on to finish fourth behind the unbeaten Hopewell Rock, Pantile Warrior (95) and Sing Us A Song (92) when sent off a warm favourite for a decent maiden at Newbury.
With the Appleby yard operating at a classy 35% strike rate over the last fortnight and further improvement expected from this gelding, he gets a confident vote to score off an opening mark of 92.
2pt Win – King's Charter
Odds – 11/4
The Group 1 Falmouth Stakes (3.35) takes centre stage at headquarters this afternoon. Cinderella's Dream should be much more at home back on a straight track, while the claims of her Ascot conqueror Crimson Advocate and the Aidan O'Brien-trained three-year-old January are there for all to see.
However, with the dead eight forecast to go to post, it could pay to take a chance on the thrice-raced Atsila for last year's winning handler Donnacha O'Brien.
An impressive winner of her first two outings, which included a taking success in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes at the Curragh on her second start, Donnacha O'Brien's filly was handed the task of tackling the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas last time out.
Whilst a finishing position of seventh suggests she has something to find at this level; there were excuses that day and I'm happy to give her another chance to prove that she's capable of mixing it with the best in this division.
The daughter of Phoenix Of Spain found herself too far back in a messy-run race last time out, but the form of her prior Group 3 success continues to work out well and it's easy to forgive the latest effort.
The runner-up in the Athasi Stakes, Cercene, has gone to finish third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas before landing the Coronation Stakes, while the fourth-placed horse, California Dream, went to finish runner-up in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, and the sixth-placed horse, Garden Of Eden, claimed the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot. Furthermore, Barnavara, who stayed on well to take the bronze medal spot, has since won in Listed and Group 3 company on her last two starts.
Whilst Atsila doesn't bring the same profile as Donnacha O'Brien's winner twelve months ago, she does bring plenty of potential to the table and it's hard not to think that her best days still aren't well ahead of her.
1pt Each-way – Atsila
Odds – 12/1
Over at Ascot, Sea Force could prove a different proposition having been gelded since winning a Nottingham maiden 29 days ago.
William Haggas' charge has looked tricky yet talented in his first four outings to date, filling the runner-up spot twice before getting off the mark last time out.
He was a neck behind Owen Burrows' well-regarded Remmooz, who has since finished fourth in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, on his seasonal return, while the form of his recent Nottingham success, where he was heavily eased in the closing stages, took a boost when the winner won a useful-looking event at Windsor last time.
I'm in no doubt that he's capable of much better than his opening mark of 88. The experienced apprentice Harry Burns is good value for his 3lb claim and if the gelding operation has had its desired positive effect, he could be tough to stop this afternoon.
1pt Win – Sea Force
Odds – 11/4
Connections of Celandine have decided to swerve the July Cup, which seemed a serious consideration earlier in the week, in favour of a trip to York for the Group 3 William Hill Summer Stakes (2.45).
Ed Walker's bullish comments about a piece of work she did earlier in the week were enough to make anyone take notice, while the form of her success in the Lowther over course and distance in August took a significant boost when Harry Eustace's talented filly Time For Sandals claimed the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
She subsequently disappointed when behind Lake Victoria in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1), but that effort came on soft ground and she should be much more at home on this afternoon's surface.
There's every chance she could prove up to being Group 1 quality this season and if that's the case, Ed Walker's daughter of Kingman should be winning this on her reappearance.
1pt Win – Celandine
Odds - 5/1
