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One key runner from each of the eight races on ITV on Saturday

Ghaiyyath (second left): in a league of his own this season
Ghaiyyath (second left): in a league of his own this seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Devious Company
1.50 Doncaster
bet365 Champagne Stakes (Group 2), 7f (2yo)

Devious Company arguably has the two best pieces of form to his name – his Group 2 seconds to Master Of The Seas in the Superlative and Battleground in the Vintage. The issue is, he also has easily the worst performance last time out to overcome. If he can put that flop at Naas in the Irish EBF sales race behind him he will take a lot of beating.

Morando
2.05 Chester
#ChesterRaces Supports The Injured Jockeys Fund Stand Stakes (Listed), 1m4½f (3yo+)

Andrew Balding's seven-year-old sets the standard in the form book. He may have been slightly underwhelming in his two starts to date this season, but he was at his very best last autumn when second to Technician in the Geoffrey Freer, then running away with the Cumberland Lodge by six lengths from Sextant who had won this on his previous start. He has run to a Racing Post Rating of 115+ five times in his career, with three of those runs coming August or later – he also dead heated for the St Simon Stakes in 2018 – so this seems the time to catch him.

A Momentofmadness
2.25 Doncaster
bet365 Portland Handicap (Class 2), 5½f (3yo+)

Last year's winner Oxted may have graduated from the handicap ranks but the horse who followed him home – and won this the year before – lines up in A Momentofmadness, and the Charlie Hills-trained seven-year-old has to have every chance. He was sixth in this in 2017 as a four-year-old, rated 95, while his victory and second came off marks of 99 and 95 respectively, so today's 91 looks more than fair for a horse with such a good record in the race.

A Momentofmadness: displayed blistering speed
A Momentofmadness: won the Portland Handicap in 2018Credit: Alan Crowhurst

Victory Chime
2.40 Chester
Racing Together How Sport Helps Others Handicap (Class 2), 1m2½f (4yo+, 0-105)

Like just about every race run at Chester, this race revolves around the horse in stall one. Victory Chime led on five of his seven starts last season and is in the perfect position if reverting to those tactics. On both starts this season he has taken a lead, but Paul Hanagan could find himself boxed in if letting something come over the top of him as both Lawn Ranger (stall three) and Maydanny (four) also like to go forward. Just how hard they go early is almost entirely down to what Hanagan decides to do.

Wichita
3.00 Doncaster
bet365 Park Stakes (Group 2), 7f (3yo+)

This is a race full of specialists, with Limato, One Master and Molatham all best at this unique trip between sprinting and races over a mile, but that club could have a new member in Aidan O'Brien's 2,000 Guineas runner-up and St James's Palace third Wichita. A fifth in the Sussex Stakes saw him dropped to six and a half furlongs for the Prix Maurice de Gheest, in which he was taken off his feet, but down in class and up half a furlong in trip he may just have landed on his optimum race conditions.

NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Ryan Moore riding Wichita win The Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on September 26, 2019 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Wichita (right): may just have landed on his optimum race conditionsCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Peaceful
3.10 Leopardstown
Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes (Group 1), 1m (3yo+ fillies and mares)

It is one-all between Peaceful and Fancy Blue this season. Aidan O'Brien's runner came out on top by two lengths in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, while over two and a half furlongs further in the Prix de Diane his son Donnacha got the better of things by a neck. Fancy Blue has since added the Nassau, while Peaceful has been freshened up and back at a mile may have the advantage. Ryan Moore wears the first cap on Fancy Blue, but Seamie Heffernan has ridden Peaceful in both starts this season while Moore was aboard for that Nassau success, so there may not be much significance in that. It is well documented Aidan and the Coolmore team choose which horse Moore rides rather than the rider having a say, so it should not necessarily be read as a vote of confidence – at least from the world's best jockey.

Santiago
3.35 Doncaster
Pertemps St Leger Stakes (Group 1), 1m6½f (3yo)

Hukum has an exciting profile and Pyledriver is an admirable and talented horse, but neither would be anything like as short as 15-8 if they took Stradivarius on in his own division in a race like the Goodwood Cup, and that speaks to the class edge Santiago has here. Frankie Dettori, who got the better of him that day by two and a quarter lengths on the greatest stayer of his generation, is aboard the Royal Ascot and Irish Derby winner here and he can ride the race to suit the race's proven stayer.

4.10 Leopardstown
Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1), 1m2f (3yo+)

Officially the best horse in the world, Ghaiyyath has been in a league of his own this season in racking up a Group 1 hat-trick of dominant wins in the Coronation Cup, Eclipse and International. Enable is the only horse to have got within two and a quarter lengths of the Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old since his flop in the Arc last year, and he has already beaten Japan two and a half lengths and Magical three lengths this season.


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Stuart RileyDeputy news editor

Published on 12 September 2020inPreviews

Last updated 19:27, 11 September 2020

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