Westerner looks good to reap revenge on Papineau

RACING: Westerner can secure the stayers' crown by landing the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot at York this afternoon. The French raider came off second-best in the race last year when beaten a length and a quarter by the versatile Papineau, but he has looked better than ever in his two starts this term.

Hailing from Elie Lellouche's Lamorlaye yard, the six-year-old absolutely bolted up in a Group Two race at Longchamp last month and his astute handler believes that will have left him cherry-ripe for the Royal meeting.

Westerner proved in last year's Gold Cup that he can handle quick ground but he probably found himself in front too early, which goes some way to explaining his defeat in the big two-and-a-half-mile showpiece.

He seems to be getting better with age, having won on his last five starts, and, unusually for a horse who stays extreme distances, he has a really potent turn of foot that can see him power clear down the Knavesmire straight.

France last landed the Gold Cup in 1977 when Sagaro won for the third successive year, but the Olivier Peslier-ridden Westerner looks up to ending the drought, despite old adversary Papineau lining up to defend his title.

Something Exciting is the one to beat in the Ribblesdale Stakes if she runs anywhere near her Classic form of two weeks ago. David Elsworth's charge, who notched up a hat-trick as a juvenile, landed the Lupe Stakes at Goodwood on her seasonal debut before chasing home Eswarah in the Vodafone Oaks.

The filly came from the back of the pack at Epsom and could not quite get to the winner, but she faces a much lesser task here and defeat looks out of the question.

Richard Hannon knows how to extract the best from his juveniles and the speedy Green Park looks just the sort to take first prize in the opening Norfolk Stakes. Winner of his last two starts, the colt heads into the five-furlong dash in terrific form and must be hard to beat.

The son of Shinko Forest found only the useful Crocodile Bay too strong on his debut at Windsor in April, and his conqueror went on to win again before finishing an honourable third in Tuesday's Chesham Stakes.

Green Park went on to victory in a minimum-distance sprint at Lingfield in May, where he bolted up by three and a half lengths. He followed up at Windsor later that month where, despite missing the break, he rewarded his followers with a cosy half-length success. He can go on to land a hat-trick in this Group Three contest.

The Britannia Stakes is likely to see frenzied activity in the betting ring, with the wise cash expected to pour on to Michael Jarvis's highly-talented Notability.

This horse attracted a huge amount of support on his second start of the campaign at Chester, where he was backed off the boards before sprinting away with a competitive handicap.

The King's Best colt showed that run to be no fluke when just reeled in late on by Michael Stoute's Home Affairs in Haydock's Silver Bowl last month.

That form looks pretty smart, with the winner occupying third spot in the Jersey Stakes and third home Enforcer streaking up at Epsom on Derby day, and Notability must be followed while at the top of his game.