A cracking renewal and St Nicholas Abbey looks good value at 9/2 to bag another Group 1 prize for the all-conquering Aidan O’Brien.
The five-year-old ha got better with age and is finally fulfilling the potential he showed as a juvenile.
He rounded off a good season last year when thrashing Sea Moon in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs, quickening clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths in impressive fashion.
The son of Montjeu then ran a cracker after a break when beaten a neck by Cirrus Des Aglais in the Dubai Sheema Classic and after getting turned over at odds-on when in a messy race at the Curragh which he needed badly but still should have won looked better than ever when running away with the Coronation Cup at Epsom last time out.
He cruised clear that day to beat Red Cadeaux by 4 1/2 lengths and with his handle having brought him along steadily for a mid/end of season campaign there is likely to be even more to come.
I don’t think the ground will be an issue for him today, and also don’t go along with the theory that he is not at his best going left handed.
He has the beating of Sea Moon, who I don’t think has the speed for this, and his biggest danger in likely to be last year’s winner Nathaniel.
He had the selection 4 lengths behind when taking this 12 months ago, but that was a muddling race and St Nicholas Abbey has improved significantly since then.
Nathaniel also comes into this on the back of a hard race when winning the Eclipse just two weeks ago and it will be a terrific effort if he can take this turned out so quickly.
Of the others, I don’t think Dunaden has the class or speed required to land the spoils and although Dandream was impressive when winning last year’s Arc that is beginning to look like a bit of a fluke result and she has it all to prove after a disappointing effort last time out.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win St Nicholas Abbey (9/2 Betfred – BOG)