'He should be very competitive' - Charlie Appleby looking to halt Aidan O'Brien's storming two-year-old run

Even by Aidan O’Brien’s sky-high standards his juveniles are flying. Six of his last eight two-year-old runners won and Tattersalls Stakes favourite Monumental bids to keep up the good work.

O’Brien's record in this contest is mixed. In the past decade, the trainer has saddled one winner (Wichita, 2019) from four runners and among the losers were two unplaced market leaders.

We will soon find out where Monumental sits in the Ballydoyle pecking order and his runner-up finish in the Champagne Stakes is the best form in this field. However, the suspicion is that running of the Champagne was a below-par one. Our handicappers awarded Bay City Roller a Racing Post Rating of just 107, making him the lowest-rated Champagne winner over the last ten years by 3lb.

Monumental’s 106 gives him a 3lb buffer over Symbol Of Honour on his second-placed finish in the Flying Scotsman a day earlier over the Champagne course and distance. Perhaps it is worth upgrading that effort. Symbol Of Honour was returning from 87 days off and raced away from the main group when chasing the pace set by the rank outsider. It would be a surprise if Doncaster third The Waco Kid can reverse that form.

Perhaps the horse Symbol Of Honour's supporters should fear most is Diego Ventura. The unbeaten colt beat five subsequent winners when landing a red-hot Naas maiden on his debut for Gavin Cromwell before making the perfect start for new connections at Ascot, defying a slow break and tricky passage under a penalty. The step up to 7f looks the right move on that evidence.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

Going latest 

The ground for the second meeting of the autumn back on the Rowley Mile was good, good to soft in places (a GoingStick reading of 6.7) on Wednesday morning, when the forecast was unsettled with light showers during the morning, turning heavier during the evening. Thursday is set to be cloudy with sunny spells and the threat of further showers.

What they say 

Clifford Lee, rider of Assertively
He ran well in France a couple of starts ago but was a bit disappointing when we took him to Germany last time. If he bounces back from that he could be in the mix.

Richard Brown, adviser to Wathnan Racing, owners of Diego Ventura
It’s a big step up but the ground should be ideal for him and he shaped as if he’d get this trip last time, although he’s not bred for it. Aidan O’Brien looks to have the one to beat in the race and this will tell us where we are with him.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Symbol Of Honour  
We were pleased with him at Doncaster, when he was stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time and lining up on the back of a little break. He has come on for the run and should be very competitive again.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of The Waco Kid
We’ll see what the ground is like but a lot by Mehmas go on soft and it wasn’t quick when he posted a career-best at Doncaster last time. He hasn’t let us down yet and I’m sure he’ll run his usual competitive race.
Reporting by David Milnes

Read this next:

Can Joseph O'Brien land another valuable handicap hurdle with an unexposed four-year-old? 

Sign up to receive The Ante-Postman, Robbie Wilders' top weekly newsletter. Get weekend tips, festival fancies and big-race selections delivered straight to your inbox.