Crystal Ocean hard to oppose

TIPS: Stoute’s star to continue fine form at Ebor meeting

CRYSTAL OCEAN may not be the most original choice in the Juddmonte International Stakes, but it will be a huge surprise if he cannot take a starring role on day one of the Ebor meeting at York.

Sir Michael Stoute’s charge is officially ranked as the best horse in the world after three successive excellent campaigns.

Second in the St Leger at three, Crystal Ocean has really come into his own since switching back to middle distances and this term has marked a new high in his career.

A comfortable winner of two Group Threes in the early part of the year, he claimed a deserved Group One verdict with an outstanding display in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

His team must have thought the summer could not get much better than that, but Crystal Ocean then came off a narrow second best to Enable in what was a race for the ages in last month’s King George.

Going head to head for the final two furlongs, the 3lb Crystal Ocean was forced to concede perhaps proved crucial at the death, but it was a careerbest effort that sees him line up here on an official mark of 127.

That puts him 7lb clear of his nearest rival and, while Japan could be interesting for Aidan O’Brien, it is hard to go against the short-priced favourite.

O’Brien could well be on the mark today, though, with CONSTANTINOPLE fancied to strike in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes.

He has to turn around Goodwood form with Nayef Road, but there is every reason to think he can do so off level weights.

Beaten just a neck in the Gordon Stakes, he did not really help himself by hanging in the finish and his rider will surely be alive to that this time.