Punters Come For Khaldun

Ibn Khaldun has been well-supported to give Godolphin a second victory in the Racing Post Trophy on Saturday.

The colt, who progressed from nursery winner to Group Three victor on his latest start when completing a hat-trick, is 5-1 from 6-1 with Coral for the Doncaster feature.

He is now just half a point behind joint-favourites Confront and Curtain Call for the Group One contest, which Godolphin won in 1996 with Medaaly.

'Kerrin McEvoy is coming back from Australia to ride Ibn Khaldun and with Godolphin ending the season in good form, punters clearly believe a big run is expected,' said Coral's David Stevens.

Godolphin also still have Iguazu Falls, 14-1 with the same firm, in the mile showpiece for which the final declaration stage is tomorrow.

Peter Chapple-Hyam has taken the race twice with Commander Collins (1998) and Authorized (2006) and is looking to Declaration Of War this time.

After showing smart form in the first half of the season, Declaration Of War returned from a break to finish a fine second to Godolphin's Rio De La Plata in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagerdere at Longchamp on Arc day.

'He ran a blinder last time at Longchamp and came out of his race very well,' said Chapple-Hyam.

'I still think he is in the same good form as he was in France and all being well we will take our chance.

'It looks as if it will be a very tough race but so it should be ? it's a Group One.

'The ground will be fine and if it comes up on the soft side, even better, as he will handle it while some of the others possibly might not.

'He is stepping up from seven furlongs to a mile but Ryan Moore, who rode him at Longchamp, said he would have no problem getting the trip,' he told www.peterchapple-hyam.com.

Robert Havlin, who rode Declaration Of War in his previous four starts, will be back in the saddle on Saturday.

His mount is as big as 12-1 to lift the final Group One race of the season in Britain.

(C) PA Sport