Racing Weekend previewsLucky Story, a fresh horse with a real touch of class, who will not be inconvenienced by plenty of give in the ground, fits the bill perfectly for the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes on a titanic card at Newmarket today.
The Mark Johnston-trained colt looks to be crying out for 10 furlongs after a sterling effort in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last time out - only his third run of a season truncated by injury. He chased the brilliant Rakti hard in the closing stages but could not quite get to the big horse.
Lucky Story was formerly a top-class two-year-old and would have been a leading contender for the Guineas had injury not intervened after his gutsy win in the Champagne Stakes.
He did not reappear until 11 months later and lost little in defeat by going down by a short head to Norse Dancer in Group Three company at Salisbury.
Lucky Story then disappointed when only mid-division in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. However, he bounced back at Ascot, where he relished the searing pace and stayed on better than anything except the winner. The longer trip can only be to his advantage and he has little to find with likely favourite Azamour on a line through Norse Dancer.
Librettist would have been the pick for the main supporting contest, the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, but connections are seriously concerned about the ground, so the nod goes to the twice-raced Henrik, who can give Mick Channon a second triumph in the juvenile championship after Tobougg in 2000.
The son of Primo Dominie has rock-solid form to his name, having beaten the well-regarded Qadar on his debut on fast ground at Goodwood in May.
He followed that when going agonisingly close on much easier ground at the July meeting, looking all over the winner before being collared by the fast-finishing Dubawi on the line.
However, that was no disgrace as the Godolphin runner has gone on to success in Group One company here and is vying for outright 2000 Guineas favouritism.
Persistent rain means the totesport Cesarewitch is going to turn into even more of a stamina test and that should suit Hughie Morrison's The Last Cast.
The five-year-old had his first run on the Flat for almost two years when making all in determined fashion at Salisbury on soft ground in May.
A winner on heavy over hurdles, the gelding has a terrific racing weight with Fran Ferris taking an extra 3lb off, which could prove valuable.
