Tough Task For Stoute Trio

Sir Michael Stoute admits it will be 'very difficult' to win tomorrow's Emirates Airline Champion Stakes despite fielding three of the eight runners.

The Freemason Lodge handler relies on Notnowcato and Maraahel, the first two home in the Juddmonte International Stakes, as well as Rob Roy.

Neither of the first two have run since that race at York, with Maraahel also having a Hardwicke Stakes win to his credit while Notnowcato also finished second in the Coral-Eclipse earlier in the season.

The pair will be partnered by Richard Hills and Ryan Moore respectively, while Kerrin McEvoy steps in for the mount on Rob Roy.

The latter will be having his first try at 10 furlongs since last year's Champion Stakes in which he finished a disappointing 14th of the 15 runners.

'I think it's a very tough Champion Stakes. It's a really fierce race. My horses are prepared well,' Stoute told Racing UK.

'We are trying Rob Roy over a mile and a quarter for the first time so that's a question mark.

'I would say there's not a lot between them (Notnowcato and Maraahel). They have both been trained for the race and are in great shape.

'I don't think they have outside chances but realistically it will be a very difficult race to win.'

Notnowcato is the better fancied of Stoute's trio and is a best-priced 11-2 with Ladbrokes, while the same firm go 8-1 about Maraahel and 25s for Rob Roy.

Sir Percy is as low as 5-2 favourite with William Hill and Ladbrokes for the Group One feature as he makes his long-awaited reappearance.

Marcus Tregoning's Vodafone Derby hero has been off the track since his Epsom triumph but he returns to the fray on Saturday when he will also meet older rivals for the first time.

Alain de Royer-Dupre's French raider Pride is a best-priced 3-1 second favourite with totesport and Hills and she leads the challenge of the older brigade as she bids to go one place better than her recent second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

She will be joined by compatriot Hurricane Run who will be bidding to get back on the winning track after suffering two successive defeats in the Prix Foy and the Arc. Mick Kinane is due to partner Andre Fabre's charge for the first time.

French Oaks winner Confidential Lady represents Sir Mark Prescott while Barry Hills will run outsider Olympian Odyssey.

(C) PA Sport