Can Mount Atlas follow stablemate Alsakib's lead and land £100,000 Old Rowley Cup?

Andrew Balding won this race 12 months ago with a lightly raced last-time-out winner who was having only his sixth start and Mount Atlas boasts a remarkably similar profile for the yard.

Just like Alsakib in 2023, Mount Atlas comes into the race on the back of a win at Ascot on only his fifth outing and is open to loads more improvement. It wasn’t the same race that Alsakib won on his way here, but Mount Atlas’s victory has been well advertised since.

Mount Atlas had four subsequent winners behind him, including York’s Melrose scorer Tabletalk and Burdett Road, who won a Listed race by a long way at this track last month.

That form looks good enough to give Mount Atlas a big chance and he is the right favourite.

Alan King won the race in 2019 with none other than Trueshan and may saddle the biggest danger to Mount Atlas in the shape of Brioni, who also won at Ascot on his latest outing.

Alan King: won this with Trueshan in 2019Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

That was over a mile and a quarter and Brioni is up 7lb as well as another two furlongs in trip, but his half-brother Dream Story won his sole start at this distance and that gives hope that Brioni can find the required progress now that he is faced with a stiffer test of stamina.

Sun God is going the other way in terms of trip, dropping two furlongs after failing to stay a mile and three-quarters in the Melrose at York last time behind Tabletalk, who Mount Atlas had previously beaten. Sun God was second entering the last two furlongs but finished fifth.

He had previously shown good form on undulating tracks like this, when finishing fourth over a mile and a quarter on the July course and fifth at a furlong further at Goodwood in August. Drying going will suit Sun God and he may be capable of springing a small surprise.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Grey Cuban and Kitteridge
Kitteridge has had a break since her last run when she was disappointing, but she seems to be better for it. She ran her career best at the Rowley Mile and we think she’ll stay and like the ground. Grey Cuban has really improved. It’ll be tough for him to give weight around all round, but he should enjoy getting his toe in. He won the last day like he would stay.

David Menuisier, trainer of Goodwood Odyssey
He’s had a good season. He didn’t fire at Ascot last time but it was his second run in two weeks and the ground was a bog both times. This race was always the plan for him, so that’s why we’ve given him a break, and the ground should suit him. I’ve taken the blinkers off as he was a little keen with them on at Ascot.

James Ferguson, trainer of Kildare Legend
He’s in good form. This has been the target since his last run and he has proven he goes on the ground. He has improved with every run and is a nice prospect for next year.

Eve Johnson Houghton, trainer of Due To Henry
He’s stepping up in trip but he won well at Newbury last time. We think it’s worth having a crack with him.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Sun God
He's a progressive sort who should be a nice type next year. He has a live chance along with about a dozen others in the race.

Josh Moore, joint-trainer of Give It To Me OJ
He’s got no weight and the track should suit him, while any more rain would be to his advantage. He had been ready to run over hurdles but wasn’t able to. He has grown up a lot so that should help him too.
Reporting by Peter Scargill

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.