Thundering On confirms herself as leading Arc contender and seals magnificent treble for Joseph O'Brien

Thundering On and Ryan Moore win the Blandford Stakes Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

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Thundering On confirmed herself as a leading Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe contender for Joseph O'Brien when getting back in the winning groove with a smooth success in the Group 2 Moyglare "Jewels" Blandford Stakes to seal a treble for the stable.

The Frankel filly bolted up in the Oaks in June in testing conditions and was tasked with taking on her elders three weeks later when stepping down in trip on fast ground in the Pretty Polly. She ran below her peak to finish fourth as 11-10 favourite.

After a mid-season break, she was back to something close to her best on more suitable ground and travelled like a dream under Ryan Moore before pouncing a furlong out and winning decisively by a length and a half as the 5-4 favourite, with the William Haggas-trained Lilt staying on into second.

She was cut to 8-1 (from 12-1) by Paddy Power for the Arc and a leading Irish-trained contender for Longchamp.

"We're delighted with her," said O'Brien. "It was a little blip the last day but we learned a lot and we were able to use that today. Hopefully we're in for an exciting autumn. I think she's interesting [for the Arc]. We know she stays the mile and a half and she likes a bit of juice in the ground."

The first leg of the treble was delivered by Moore when Star Of State won like a 1-5 favourite should in the lucrative Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes.

The State Of Rest filly ran an excellent race when a length second to Libertango in the Lowther Stakes at York last time and easily outclassed the field, bolting up by two and a quarter lengths to 200-1 shot Fine Line.

"It was good prize-money and she's a nice filly," said O'Brien. "Libertango just nabbed her late the last day and she's probably the best filly around, so we have to consider the Cheveley Park."

Appleby and RP Racing strike again

When trainer Mick Appleby and owners RP Racing rock up to the Curragh with a sprinter, it is worth taking note, and they recorded their second big prize at the track this season when Coul Angel annihilated the field in the Bold Lad Sprint.

The red and blue silks were carried to victory by Big Mojo in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes last month, and there were jubilant scenes in the winners' enclosure again as Tom Marquand guided the 7-2 favourite Coul Angel to an easy two-and-three-quarter length victory over Red Evolution.

Having finished placed in the Dash and Constantine Handicap at York, the four-year-old was threatening to land a big pot and it was the first time since 2020 the race had been won by a British trainer.

"He did it very well," said Appleby. "He's been in great form and has been unlucky a few times at York. Tom gave him a great ride and was patient with him. After York, we looked at this race and it looked an ideal race for him. We'll see how he comes out of it and see what else there is for him."

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