Excellent Chance For Art

Three-year-olds may have been notable by their absence from the King George at the weekend, but Excellent Art will try to strike a blow for the Classic generation when he lines up in the BGC Sussex Stakes at Goodwood today.

Aidan O'Brien's colt finished fourth in the French 2000 Guineas on his seasonal bow before leading home the field in a top-notch renewal of the St James's Palace Stakes.

The Pivotal colt has been given a break since that run and totesport make him the 6-4 favourite to come out on top as he clashes with his elders for the first time.

'He's working well and we are very hopeful. It's a tough race to win, but he has his chances,' part-owner Michael Tabor told Channel 4 Racing.

O'Brien also fields outsiders Archipenko and Trinity College as he goes in search of a third success in the last 10 years, following Giant's Causeway (2000) and Rock Of Gibraltar (2002).

Queen Anne Stakes winner Ramonti leads the challenge of the older brigade.

The five-year-old had previously been trained in Italy but put up a career-best performance when holding Jeremy by a short head last time.

Although the runner-up reopposes, trainer Saeed bin Suroor expects Ramonti to take high order.

'I am really happy with him. He has been working well and he is in good form,' he said.

'This is a tough race, but I believe he has the class to cope with it.

'He is a very hard horse to keep out of the money and we are looking forward to a big run tomorrow.'

Mike de Kock admits it would be a 'massive' achievement if his South African raider Asiatic Boy could come out on top.

The four-year-old arrives on the back of four wins in Dubai over the winter, culminating in a nine-and-a-half-length romp in the UAE Derby in March.

'It would be massive if we could win, but I don't even want to go there at the moment!' said de Kock.

'I'm very happy to see the ground drying up there. Softer ground would have just added to our list of worries, but it seems to be firming up nicely now.

'He has raced on dirt, going left-handed, for much of his life so we are hoping he will handle it.

'If a horse is good enough, he can deal with all surfaces.

'It does look an excellent race and there are a couple of really good horses in there so we will have to see how it goes.

'Weichong (Marwing, jockey) has had a look at the track and has seen a lot of videos of races round there.

'He will be having a first ride as we couldn't get him one before, so it will be first time for both horse and jockey.'

Kevin Prendergast sends over Decado from his County Kildare base after a confidence-boosting win in a Group Three event at the Curragh.

Last season he produced top-class form to be beaten only three lengths by Araafa and George Washington in the Irish 2000 Guineas.

'He won really well (at the Curragh last time out) considering it was his first attempt at a mile and a furlong but the easier the ground is, the better he will be,' said Prendergast.

'He is not as effective on quick ground as he is on soft ground, but I am hopeful he will run well.

'It might be drying up now but surely it can't be fast ground after all the rain. It is only when it is really firm he is affected.'

BGC Sussex Stakes, totesport bet: 6-4 Excellent Art, 11-4 Ramonti, 7-2 Asiatic Boy, 9-2 Jeremy, 33-1 Archipenko, Decado, Munaddam, 100-1 Trinity College.

? PA Sport