Yalta can make most of drop in grade back against own age group

Pepsi Max Flying Childers Stakes
2.30 Doncaster

Afandem was beaten a head in the Roses Stakes at York, a race in which former winners finished 111112. The course-and-distance winner has since been back to France to win a Group 3 at Chantilly.

The easy ground forecast for Ebor Day failed to materialise –there were two course records – and was again too fast for Ardad. The forecast is for rain again, so it will be another late call.

Five of the six winners from the Hannon stable had quality Group-placed form, unlike Legendary Lunch.

Prince Of Lir beat The Last Lion on his first two starts, including in the Norfolk Stakes, but has since lost his form. He was out of his depth in the Nunthorpe, but his Prix Robert Papin flop is more difficult to understand.

The Last Lion has been tremendously consistent and in better form recently than Prince Of Lir. He is out quickly after his Sirenia Stakes win last week, but he takes his races well.

Tis Marvellous won the Papin in July, but lines of form through Al Johrah suggest he didn’t give his running on a return visit to France for the Prix Morny. Recent winners Gutaifan and Sir Prancealot were first and second in the Papin and he isn’t penalised. The tongue-strap used on his first two starts is reapplied.

In addition to his draw,Yalta had too much on in the Nunthorpe and is much better judged on his Molecomb victory. Six winners and three runners-up have followed that path since 1980.

Equimou ran a terrific race against her elders here on Wednesday. There is a precedent for a quick return, as Godfrey Street won this in 2005 three days after finishing fifth in a sales race.

Nine fillies were successful between 1992 and 2009, but Grizzel will need to improve a good deal for the drop to the minimum trip.

Selection Yalta
Alternative Tis Marvellous