BUICK BACKING JACK TO MAKE MARK IN THE ARC

JOCKEY William Buick believes Jack Hobbs will return to the track this afternoon a more complete racehorse than when he was last seen winning the Irish Derby at the Curragh in June.

The John Gosden- trained colt has his prep race for next month’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in the Group Three Totescoop6 September Stakes at Kempton.

The only horse to beat Jack Hobbs in his five-race career is stablemate Golden Horn, who had him in second place in both the Derby and Dante Stakes. Buick (above) said: ‘I think he is a top-class horse and better than when he was beaten by Golden Horn in both the Dante Stakes and Derby. I don’t know where he would stand if they met again.

‘He is ready for another run, having had a break. He has done well mentally and physically. I think he is a better horse since we saw him last.

‘All he has done this season is go from strength to strength. He possibly looked a bit immature early in the season but he has really filled out. Kempton is just about getting a race into him before Paris to blow the cobwebs off. It is solid enough opposition and he will have to perform at a fair level to get the job done.’

Jack Hobbs’s rivals include Royal Ascot handicap winner Arab Dawn, but he will be a long odds-on favourite to beat rivals who are his inferiors on form.

Golden Horn was due to warm up for his run in next Saturday’s Irish Champion Stakes by working on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket this morning.

Gosden’s Mr Singh will not run in the St Leger next Saturday after picking up an infection.