Can Caius Chorister keep Willie Mullins and the Irish challengers at bay or is another staying prize going for export?

This race would surely revolve around Caius Chorister but for the presence of the Willie Mullins-trained County Hurdle winner Absurde. Caius Chorister is still rated 4lb superior to the Irish challenger on Racing Post Ratings, but Mullins can be considered quite the leveller.

He has two wins from seven runners on the Flat in Britain this year, with Belloccio striking in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot and Vauban landing the Lonsdale Cup at York, leaving little doubt that the Irish-trained stayers are currently well on top of the British ones.

Hipop De Loire would also almost certainly have been placed in the Ebor for Mullins last week but for trouble in running and the race was won by the Irish with Magical Zoe anyway. All of that points to Absurde giving the raiders another staying prize, so can Caius Chorister stop them?

That probably depends on which Caius Chorister turns up because she has struggled to land a blow on her last two starts, again behind Irish winners in Kyprios and Term Of Endearment.

Caius Chorister’s chance appears to rest on her returning to the form she showed in May, when she was twice only narrowly defeated, once at the hands of Coltrane and the other behind Sweet William, who has gone on to run some good races in defeat subsequently.

James Doyle rides for the first time and connections will be hoping he can get Caius Chorister to drop her head early as her tendency to race freely has been costly recently.

Mullins isn’t the only Irish trainer that Caius Chorister is out to thwart because Gordon Elliott and Karl Thornton saddle Samui and Shanroe. Shanroe won the race last season and has probably been targeted at it again, so a 300-day absence should not be a concern.

However, Samui might prove the most dangerous on just his fifth Flat outing, having recorded progressive RPRs of 86. 93, 99 and 110 on his first four starts on the level.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Fairbanks backs up

Fairbanks is on a retrieval mission after nearly being knocked over and not getting involved in the Ebor at York last week, a sequence of events that has prompted connections into a quick turnaround.

Jockey David Probert was stopped repeatedly in his run on the progressive Andrew Balding-trained stayer, who finished 14th behind Magical Zoe.

Fairbanks had been on an upward curve before York, winning a £100,000 handicap at Newmarket's July festival and finishing second in a similar contest at Glorious Goodwood.

Probert said: “The Ebor was a messy race with the unfortunate incident of Crystal Delight coming down, which meant we raced up the fence in the straight. There a wasn’t a lot of room over there and things didn’t pan out as expected for Fairbanks.

"He didn’t take a lot out of himself and is ready to go again. The track and ground shouldn’t be a problem for him and we're hoping he can bounce back.”

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Samui
He’s got a new lease of life since going on the Flat and ran a cracker at York, where he bumped into a fast-improving horse. Hopefully Chester will suit and, while it’s a hot race, hopefully he can have a big run.

Cieren Fallon, rider of Enemy
He’s a big price but should enjoy going around there and he’s not short of pace. Ian [Williams] wouldn’t be running him if he didn’t think he’d be competitive.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to Saeed Suhail, owner of Real Dream
He ran a nice race first time out this season and if he returns to that sort of form there is no reason why he can’t run well.

David Menuisier, trainer of Caius Chorister
She picked up a little virus after the Lillie Langtry and perhaps that's why she wasn't 100 per cent on the day, but she lost nothing in defeat. This looks a good opportunity if she handles the track and I have no reason to think she would not.
Reporting by David Milnes

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