'This is a stepping stone to the British Champions Sprint' - analysis and trainer quotes for the Group 3 Bengough Stakes

The Bengough Stakes has been used in recent years as a successful preparation for the Champions Sprint, which is held over the same course and distance in two weeks' time. That is unlikely to be the case this year, though, given only one runner holds an entry. That is Quinault, who can be backed at 50-1 for the Champions Day Group 1. His outsider status is largely due to the fact that he has come up short in better company since landing the Criterion Stakes at York in June.

He produced a Racing Post Rating of 115 that day, which makes him one of just two runners in the field to have eclipsed the ten-year average winning RPR for a Bengough scorer (114.8). He’ll need to be back at somewhere near that level to defy his Group 3 penalty.

Top on adjusted figures is Annaf, who won this contest two years ago. He’s winless in Britain since (Group 2 winner in Saudi Arabia last year), but he’s often been highly tried, and RPRs of 113, 114 and 112 this year confirm he retains all of his ability.

There has been lots of rain in the forecast and he is one who won’t mind if conditions get testing, given he has form figures of 319 (ninth in a Group 1) on soft ground or worse. He’s likely to be on the premises down in class.

Others who won’t mind any ease underfoot are last year’s winner Apollo One, who arrives on the back of a close second in the Portland just as he did 12 months ago, and Ayr Gold Cup winner Run Boy Run, while Prince Of India ran right up to his juvenile best on his only encounter with soft ground.

Prince Of India has been a revelation since dropping to 6f, rising 20lb in the handicap, and he wasn’t seen to best effect when third behind Elmonjed in the Listed Garrowby Stakes at York. This stiffer track will suit him better and there is every chance he can reverse that form.
Analysis by Harry Wilson

Botti hoping Prince Of India can start big weekend for stable in style

It is a huge weekend for Newmarket trainer Marco Botti.

He is represented in Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe by last month’s September Stakes winner Giavellotto, he sends Great Generation to Keeneland for Saturday’s Grade 1 First Lady Stakes, and holds an excellent chance of a Group 3 win at Ascot via rapid improver Prince Of India.

The three-year-old son of Wootton Bassett has thrived this year, with his official rating soaring from 76 in March to 104.

He landed the valuable Shergar Cup Sprint over course and distance on good to firm ground in August, before finishing third to Elmonjed in a York Listed race after not enjoying the best of runs at a crucial time.

Prince of India (Marco Ghiani) wins the 6f handicap

Prince of India: big improver this seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

His progress has been achieved on mainly fast ground, and the only concern is much slower terrain.

“He’s in good form and ran well at York,” Botti said. “I wouldn’t want the ground to get extremely soft, but I’m sure Ascot will suit Prince Of India better than York.

“It’s a tough race, but on ratings he should be there or thereabouts."

What they say

Stuart Williams, trainer of Quinault
He’s in good form and we felt it worth trying him back at six furlongs. Running into a stiff headwind at Doncaster didn’t help him last time. This is a stepping stone to the British Champions Sprint; we’ll give him a whirl at that.

William Haggas, trainer of Elmonjed and Lou Lou's Gift
Elmonjed is good at York. He's not proven on soft ground and I've always thought he doesn't want it. I can't see him running much more this year so we may run him anyway, but his chance is limited by the ground conditions. Lou Lou's Gift is in the same boat and I might not run her because she really doesn't want soft ground.

Richard Spencer, trainer of Run Boy Run
He's up in class after his win in the Ayr Gold Cup which he has taken well and he won't mind any rain. It's a big ask, but hopefully he can figure.

James Tate, trainer of Kullazain
It’s a stiff task, but he’s in terrific form. A deluge of rain would improve his chance of proving his odds wrong.

Ivan Furtado, trainer of Alfa Kellenic
She needed the run at Ayr, where the ground also went against her. Obviously there is lots of rain forecast and, if the ground goes soft, she probably won’t run. She has come on from Ayr and is in great order, but ideally she needs fast ground.

Roger Varian, trainer of Jabaara
She wouldn't want too much rain, but she's back to six furlongs which should suit her as she's not short of pace. It's a good renewal, but she should be in the shake-up.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Nariko
She disappointed at Ayr. We couldn’t find a reason; perhaps she was in season, I don’t know. It’s a big step up in grade. If she could finish third it would seriously enhance her paddocks value.
Reporting by Richard Birch

Read more from our Saturday Raceday Intel package:

12.58 Longchamp: where are all the stayers? Stamina the big question mark in a wide-open running of the Cadran

2.25 Ascot: will it be an Al Qareem hat-trick or is Hamish ready to thwart him in a battle of two old warriors in Cumberland Lodge?

2.40 Newmarket: 'A repeat of her run in the spring will put her bang there' - can Cinderella's Dream end a 22-year hoodoo for Godolphin in the Sun Chariot?

3.35 Ascot: 'From what we’ve seen in the mornings he should be bang there' - who fancies their chances in a typically competitive Challenge Cup?

4.00 Longchamp: 'She’s going to run well' - have the French finally got one who can repel the raiders in the Prix de Royallieu?

4.35 Gowran: rapidly improving Galway Plate winner back in action - but Gordon Elliott voices concerns ahead of four-timer bid