Arrest was six lengths in front of Adelaide River, Aidan O’Brien’s sole runner in the Vase, in Paris seven months ago and has nothing to fear from that rival on their juvenile form, but Hadrianus (3.15), a stable companion of Dubai Mile at the Charlie Johnston yard, could pose more of a challenge. Sandown 1.50 Goshen is very difficult to catch right but his latest run at Lingfield was his best for a while and this return to Sandown, where he won impressively as a four-year-old, should suit. Newmarket 3.50 Fast-improving Real Gain may be able to take the step up to Group Three company in his stride. Ylang Ylang gives O’Brien another milestone

Leopardstown 1.35 Five are unbeaten in Ireland’s only Grade One juvenile hurdle before Cheltenham, while Vauban, a half-length second to Pied Piper on debut, will tie the form to the current Triumph favourite. Ben Siegel, an easy winner in a strong time in November, is overlooked in the market at around 16-1 but has significant scope for improvement and an excellent each-way alternative to the market leaders. And this is where the British Horseracing Authority will hope to offer a helping hand, via its much-trailed “premierisation” project, which will begin to take shape next year.

The statement continued: “He remains in ITU with respiratory support at the Royal Victoria infirmary hospital in Newcastle, but it has been possible to reduce his sedation. It is right that those discussions are allowed to take place away from the glare of publicity, but we will look to provide an update as soon as possible in light of the existing timelines for the ‘soft launch’ of revised rules on 9 January 2023.” Hadrianus, a 5-1 shot, is not entered in the Derby but his recent second behind Epictetus, the runner-up in last season’s Vertem Futurity at Doncaster, in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom does not give him much to find with the favourite. He should also have a slight edge in fitness and a small field means Franny Norton, who is peerless aboard front-runners on the Roodee, should be able to get his favoured pitch on the rail despite being drawn widest of the five runners. Newmarket 3.15 Possibly less to choose between Gasper De Lemos and Arabian Crown, the favourite, than the betting might suggest so Aidan O’Brien’s colt gets the nod at around 7-2. That said, the Queen had 37 individual runners in Britain in 2022 before her death last month, and more than a third are due to be sold this week. That is a sizeable chunk in anyone’s book, and the extent, if any, to which those horses are replaced will be a guide as to the rate at which the royal racing operation is being scaled down.

Noel Meade’s dual-purpose gelding has been in the form of his life this year, finishing a close second in the Galway Hurdle in July and then putting up a career-best when fourth, beaten just over a length, in the Irish Cesarewitch three weeks ago. Chester 2.40: The impeccably-bred Savethelastdance was much improved on her return to action at Leopardstown and will be tough to beat as Aidan O’Brien goes for a fifth Cheshire Oaks success in eight years Newmarket 2.00 Three months on from City Of Troy’s emphatic win in the Superlative Stakes, it remains the most impressive performance by a European juvenile this season and he should seal his status as the champion two-year-old here. Wetherby 2.30 The betting implies a stroll for Ahoy Senor but Saint Palais has progressed with every start over fences, put up a new career-best last time and has a better chance than odds of 3-1 might suggest. York 1.15 Esquire could offer some value at around 7-1 having posted a useful time for a debutant when winning with plenty in hand at Hamilton last month.Frodon (3.15) was a long way below his best in the King George but Bryony Frost’s mount was taken on for the lead there and should have an easier time in front on Saturday. This also looks like his major target for the second half of the season, and he is a decent bet at around 3-1 to extend Nicholls’s current win streak in Ireland to four.