Racing: Vespone can spring a surprise by overturning the favourites in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.
The three-year-old is already a dual-Group One winner this season but comes into the race virtually unheralded for what will be his first run for Godolphin.
Vespone was recruited by the Dubai outfit after winning four of his six starts for Neil Clement in France. The son of Llandaff won a minor event at the start of the season before finishing second in a Listed contest and then winning a Group Three at Saint-Cloud.
Vespone's improvement continued as he moved up in grade to tackle the Group One Prix Jean Prat, running out a most convincing three-length winner of the nine-furlong race.
He then caught Godolphin's attention by winning the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, and although it was not the highest quality field, he beat Magistretti and others easily.
Vespone is clearly a horse with a future and although he has been off the track since June and tackles faster ground for the first time, he is worth a punt.
The Darley Dewhurst Stakes looks to be at the mercy of Marcus Tregoning's Snow Ridge. This colt looks a real star in the making judging on his two wins so far and the Kingswood House handler seems to have real confidence in his abilities.
Snow Ridge started with a win over seven furlongs at Kempton and then showed huge improvement to take the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot last time.
Although he only won by three-quarters of a length, the distance does not reflect the acceleration he found to get himself out of a bad position.
The son of Indian Ridge still seemed green and had just two behind him turning into the straight, but Martin Dwyer conjured a huge response from the colt and he won readily.
Although he is bred for longer trips, Snow Ridge has an amazing amount of speed and that can help him on this step back down to seven furlongs from a mile.
The Tote Cesarewitch is the only non-Group race on the card and it is one of the most competitive handicaps of the year.
Michael Bell's Shabernak looks to have been laid out for the race and Kieren Fallon was most keen to ride the gelding after winning on him at Ascot in August.
The Newmarket trainer is satisfied that the ground will suit Shabernak and he could go off at a healthy price.
Trade Fair can prove a worthy favourite in the Group Two Victor Chandler Challenge Stakes.
Roger Charlton's three-year-old bounced back to form with a confidence-boosting success in a Newbury Listed event last time and this race looks well within his reach.
Old favourite Persian Punch can put a poor run in France behind him in the Jockey Club Cup, while Bay Tree can take the Owen Brown Rockfel Stakes for Barry Hills.
James Fanshawe's Macadamia can round off Champions' Day by winning the Newmarket Darley Stakes.
