Racing: Royal Ascot previewChristophe Soumillon teams up with the Irish star Dylan Thomas for the second time in today's Prince Of Wales's Stakes but an old pal of the French champion jockey can spoil their Group One party.
Manduro returns to Royal Ascot in the form of his life and can be expected to improve on his third to Ouija Board in this race last year when Soumillon didn't look to particularly excel on Andre Fabre's horse.
On that occasion the five-year-old ended up beaten just half a length and three-quarters of a length by Ouija Board and Electrocutionist after an unlucky run through the race and that is form that stands up well against the quality of today's seven-runner feature.
Dylan Thomas and Notnowcato renew hostilities from an epic clash in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh which the English runner just edged.
Now that Dylan Thomas leaves Ireland, Aidan O'Brien has picked up Soumillon's services and the champion trainer will be hoping that the Belgian-born jockey can maintain his 100 per cent record having landed the Prix Ganay on Dylan Thomas in May.
"He had an easy time after France and that might have caught him just a bit at the Curragh. We're very happy with him now," O'Brien said.
The triple Group One winner is clearly top class but this is a tough assignment with the Breeders' Cup winner Red Rocks and the Derby hero Sir Percy also in opposition.
Manduro, though, looks the real threat as he comes here having finally broken his Group One hoodoo in the Prix d'Ispahan which in turn came on the back of a very impressive victory at Newmarket.
Flexible in terms of trip, tactics and ground, the French star is one of those sons of Monsum who could still be improving and although Stephane Pasquier is no Ascot veteran, he is an Arc winner who the peerless Fabre has complete faith in.
Besides Dylan Thomas, a total of nine other Irish-trained horses line up for day two and it could be worth betting that David Wachman will provide the best chances for success.
The French-trained US Ranger appears to set the benchmark in the Jersey Stakes now that he drops back to seven furlongs after a good run in the 2,000 Guineas.
Owner Michael Tabor, however, also has the Wachman-trained Chariots Of Fire in the race and this slow-maturing colt may now be ready to step up to this sort of level.
Chariots Of Fire has been switched in distance from seven furlongs to a mile and a quarter this season but looked to have found his metier when overcoming early keenness to win over seven at Naas on his last start.
Wachman clearly regards the horse highly and a fast early pace should suit Chariots Of Fire perfectly.
Wachman also has Divine Night in the concluding Sandringham Handicap and this filly should have come on significantly from her only start of the year when third to Alexander Tango in the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown. However, the topweight Costume, fourth in the French Guineas, may have the class to overcome them all.
Flashy Wings, a Queen Mary winner here in 2005, will have to reverse form with last year's Coronation Stakes winner Nannina in the Windsor Forest Stakes but Mick Channon's filly has had a good break since running at Nad Al Sheba in March and will be a major contender in the Group Two.
Before Flashy Wings won that Queen Mary, she scored on her debut at Newbury and Polar Circle won that same race last month on route to today's Group Two sprint.
Brian O'Connor's tips
2.30 - Chariots Of Fire
3.05 - Flashy Wings
3.45 - Manduro
4.20 - Sound Of Nature
4.55 - Polar Circle
5.30 - Costume
