Obliterator strives to wipe out his challengers Trainer Ger Lyons admits there are unlikely to be any excuses for Obliterator at Royal Ascot today as he aims to get his season back on track in the Tercentenary Stakes. The Oratorio colt is bred to be smart as a half-brother to Classic-winning filly Just The Judge and made a huge impression on his racecourse debut at the Curragh last September. He ran with plenty of promise when runner-up in Newmarket's Feilden Stakes at Newmarket on his seasonal reappearance, but toiled in the Curragh mud when finishing tailed off in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He steps up to a mile and a quarter in Berkshire and with conditions set to be more favourable, Lyons is expecting a bold show. He said: "He's in good order and it wasn't the horse's fault last time. I shouldn't have run him on that ground, it's as simple as that. He's a horse who is very ground dependant and the way the ground is at Ascot at the moment is absolutely perfect for him. "I've always thought he was crying out for 10 furlongs and I don't think we'll have any excuses. If he's good enough he'll win and if he isn't he won't." Obliterator is the highest rated horse in a nine-strong Group Three field. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Cannock Chase has plenty of work to do on official ratings, but has looked the part at Windsor and Newbury this season and steps up in class in search of the hat-trick. Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail, said: "He's done nothing wrong and Sir Michael is very pleased with his progress. I don't think Sir Michael would run him unless he thought he was up to it and hopefully he has a very good chance. Any rain would help his chances." Other contenders include Richard Hannon's Barley Mow, William Haggas' runaway Sandown winner Mutakayyef and Postponed from Luca Cumani's yard.
