PRINCE’S STILL ON THE RISE

FUJAIRA PRINCE has the potential to take the step from iconic handicap to Classic with a victory in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger (4.40) at The Curragh today.

Having opened his campaign by landing the inaugural running of Royal Ascot’s Copper Horse Handicap, the Roger Varian-trained talented but fragile son of Pivotal followed up in the Ebor Handicap at York 22 days ago.

This afternoon’s assignment is a giant leap in class, but the ratings suggest Fujaira Prince is well worth his place in the line-up – and Andrea Atzeni’s mount still has more to offer.

QUE AMORO frightened the life out of backers of Battaash in York’s Nunthorpe Stakes, and a reproduction of that effort will make hard to beat in the Group 1

Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (3.10).

BATTLEGROUND is high in the ante-post Classic lists for 2021, and his odds will shorten further if, as expected, Aidan O’brien’s youngster negotiates the move up to the highest level for the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’brien National Stakes (4.10).

O’brien’s son, trainer Joseph, should also take a Group 1 prize, courtesy of PRETTY GORGEOUS in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (3.40). The return to a mile and a quarter could be key to CAYENNE PEPPER as she bids to end a frustrating run of seconds in the Group 2 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes (2.35).

The action in front of the ITV cameras at Chelmsford City is more prosaic by comparison but ALJARI is on a roll for Marco Botti and the betfred.com Handicap (3.25) looks to be his for the taking.