Best-Ever Champions´ Day In Prospect

Champions´ Day at Newmarket on Saturday, October 14, is all set to be one of the best day´s racing ever seen on the NatWest Rowley Mile.

The centrepiece of the outstanding seven-race programme on Champions´ Day is the #350,000 Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (3.30pm), in which no less than seven previous Group One winners remain engaged among the 15 horses going forward at today´s confirmation stage.

Hurricane Run, the 2005 horse of the year who won this year´s King George and was possibly unlucky when fourth in the Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 1, is set to run at Newmarket on Saturday and the Andre Fabre-trained colt could be joined by Pride, trained by Alain de Royer Dupre, who finished second in both last year´s Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and this year´s Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe.

In what is surely one of the best renewals of the NatWest Rowley Mile´s most valuable contest, multiple Group One winning mare Ouija Board, Group One Juddmonte International Stakes hero Notnowcato and Araafa, successful in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James´s Palace Stakes, all go forward today for the 10-furlong event. If that was not enough, the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes will also feature Sir Percy, not seen out since his spectacular last-gasp victory in the Vodafone Derby.

Cheveley Park Stud´s home-bred Group One Prix de Diane Hermes heroine Confidential Lady could bid to give trainer Sir Mark Prescott his third Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, following the back-to-back victories of Alborada in 1998 and 1999.

The Singspiel filly has enjoyed a break since failing to show her true form when fifth behind Alexandrova in the Group One Darley Irish Oaks on July 16.

Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Cheveley Park Stud, commented: 'No definite decision has been made and Mr and Mrs Thompson (owners of Cheveley Park Stud) will be discussing it with Sir Mark later on. The plan has been to go for the Emirates Airlines Champion Stakes.'

Stars of the future will be on show in the #250,000 Darley Dewhurst Stakes (4.10pm) which has attracted 25 confirmations.

Teofilo, unbeaten in four starts and talked of as a possible future Triple Crown contender by his trainer Jim Bolger, is still engaged in the seven-furlong contest and is one of a dozen possible Irish contenders.

Aidan O´Brien, seeking his second Darley Dewhurst Stakes success following Rock Of Gibraltar five years ago, has nine to choose from including Holy Roman Emperor, second to Teofilo in the National Stakes at the Curragh before landing the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on October 1.

Heading the home challenge for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes is Hamoody from the Newmarket yard of Peter Chapple-Hyam. Hamoody is unbeaten in two starts, having followed up on his debut success at Newmarket´s Ritz Club July Festival victory in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Chapple-Hyam, who won the Grade One Shadwell Middle Park Stakes with Dutch Art on September 29, will be out to land his second Darley Dewhurst Stakes following on from the success of subsequent Derby winner Dr Devious 15 years ago.

Eoghan O´Neill reports his stable star Vital Equine to be on track for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

O´Neill revealed this afternoon: 'He works tomorrow and then I´ll discuss things with the owner´s racing manager, Geoff Lucas, but he´s on track and Richard Mullen will ride.'

The high-class Danetime colt won his first three starts, including the Group Two Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs at York on September 9, in which he defeated subsequent impressive Group Two Juddmonte Beresford Stakes victor Eagle Mountain by half a length.

Vital Equine went to Longchamp for the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on October 1, when he suffered his first defeat in finishing a fine third to Holy Roman Emperor.

The Angmering Park handler reported: 'I was really pleased with his Longchamp run and he´s come out of that race well. We´re just delighted to have a horse that competes at Group One level.

'I wouldn´t have any worries about the ground - he goes on anything. It was soft when he won at York and he performed well when it was on the firm side at Longchamp, so he´s pretty versatile.'

A typically competitive #150,000 totesport Cesarewich (2.50pm) is in prospect with 36 horses going forward for the famous two and a quarter mile handicap, headed by Baddam, successful in both the Ascot Stakes and the marathon Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot this season. Detroit City, winner of the Triumph Hurdle at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival, is the current ante-post favourite having confirmed his well being with a smooth success in a charity race at Chepstow on Saturday. The totesport Cesarewitch is one of the few handicaps to have eluded Sir Mark Prescott although the Heath House handler looks to have a live contender this year in the shape of Key Time, winner of the Goodwood Stakes on his penultimate appearance.

Champions´ Day is further enhanced by the Group Two #90,000 VC Bet Challenge Stakes (2.10pm), for which 19 entries remain, the Group Two #70,000 'In The Pink' Rockfel Stakes (sponsored by Owen Brown), won by Speciosa 12 months ago, the Group Three #50,000 David Wilson Homes Jockey Club Cup (5.20pm) and the #50,000 Unicorn Asset Management Darley Stakes (5.55pm).

CHAMPIONS´ DAY - ORDER OF RUNNING Newmarket, Saturday, October 14

2.10pm VC Bet Challenge Stakes 3+yrs 1 Gp 2 7f Ch4 #90,000

2.50pm totesport Cesarewitch Handicap 3+yrs 1 Open 2m2f Ch4 #150,000

3.25pm Emirates Airline Champion Stakes 3+yrs 1 Gp 1 1m2f Ch4 #350,000

4.10pm Darley Dewhurst Stakes 2yrs 1 Gp 1 7f Ch4 #250,000

4.45pm ´In The Pink´ Rockfel Stakes (sponsored by Owen Brown) 2yrs 1 Gp 27f RUK #70,000

5.20pm David Wilson Homes Jockey Club Cup 3+yrs 1 Gp 3 2m RUK #50,000

5.55pm Unicorn Asset Management Darley Stakes 3+yrs 1 Gp 3 1m1f RUK #50,000

TOTAL #1,010,000