Aristotle can prove the pick of Aidan O'Brien's three runners in the Racing Post Trophy and give the champion Irish trainer his second success in the last Group One race of the British campaign at Doncaster today. O'Brien saddled Saratoga Springs to capture this championship for staying two-year-olds two years ago and made a multiple entry this time round.
The master of Ballydoyle has left three in the race with Lermontov and Zentsov Street joining Aristotle in the line-up. The fact that Michael Kinane is on Dewhurst Stakes third Zentsov Street should not be seen as a negative.
The shrewd O'Brien has chosen the ideal deputy for Aristotle in George Duffield. Aristotle certainly impressed in a seven-furlong Galway maiden in July when justifying odds of 4-5 to dispose of Huangdi. This race is a huge step up in class, but Aristotle has obviously thrived since then to merit the elevation.
And he is bred for the job being by Sadler's Wells out of Flamenco Wave. She won the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes in 1988 when unbeaten as a juvenile.
Towards the other end of the two-year-old scale, It's Allowed can continue to repay Tim Easterby's faith by lifting the Jock Murray Memorial Nursery.
Claimed out of Mick Channon's yard for 10,000 guineas after finishing third to Zietzig in a seller at York's August meeting, It's Allowed has run consistently well and opened her account for her new stable when landing a 15-runner Catterick nursery by two lengths from Zafarando.
Halland Park Girl has proved a money-spinner for trainer Richard Hannon, having amassed almost £90,000 in four victories.
Another success is on the cards for the juvenile filly in the Intercell Communications Doncaster Stakes.
Carlys Quest can take the day's Showcase Handicap, the Ladbroke Stakes. Jim Neville's charge was runner-up in the corresponding race before finishing second in the November Handicap over this course and distance.
That race is again the main objective, but Neville means business today as he has booked Frankie Dettori.
Craigsteel, denied by injury the chance of being Henry Cecil's St Leger hope in 1998, can take the feature race at Newbury, the Group Three Perpetual Stakes.
Irish raider Aretha, trained by Jim Bolger, looks the one to be on in the opening Radley Stakes.
The Indian Ridge filly ran creditably in good company before finally getting off the mark at Naas by four lengths in a 22-runner maiden over six furlongs.
Tullymurry Toff, who made a winning seasonal debut at Bangor two weeks ago, has sound claims in the Roseland Group Handicap Chase at Market Rasen.
