Inner City Blues (Ire)
- J: William Buick
- T: Charlie Appleby
- F: 11
- Age
- 2
- Weight
- 9st 2lbs
- Or
- -
€900,000 breeze-up purchase who fully confirmed the promise of his debut win at York when following up in 3-runner Group 2 on the July Course 79 days ago, readily beating the Coventry runner-up. Still not the finished article and he looks the one to beat.
Orthodox
- J: Rossa Ryan
- T: Clive Cox
- F: 116
- Age
- 2
- Weight
- 9st 2lbs
- Or
- -
Justified market support for a Salisbury maiden on debut before following up in impressive fashion in the 21-runner Norfolk at Royal Ascot. Not in the same form in the Prix Morny at Deauville 10 weeks later but big player if bouncing back.
- Age
- 2
- Weight
- 9st 2lbs
- Or
- -
Beat fellow newcomer Marco Polo when making a winning debut in 19-runner maiden at the Curragh in August and took a big step forward when edging out Coventry winner Great Barrier Reef (who was returning from 10 weeks off) in Group 3 there later in the month. Looks well worth a crack at this level.
Marco Polo (Ire)
- J: Ryan Moore
- T: Aidan O'Brien, Ireland
- F: 281
- Age
- 2
- Weight
- 9st 2lbs
- Or
- -
Chased home fellow newcomer Push The Boat Out in maiden at the Curragh. All the rage for the Gimcrack at York but still looked very raw when well held. Got back on track when easily landing the odds back in a maiden at Cork and he remains with plenty of potential.
Confucius (Ire)
- J: Tom Marquand
- T: Aidan O'Brien, Ireland
- F: 21633
- Age
- 2
- Weight
- 9st 2lbs
- Or
- -
Decisive winner of a Naas maiden on second start and he progressed further when sixth in the Coventry at Royal Ascot. However, hasn't scaled same heights in finishing third in pair of Curragh Group contests subsequently. Headgear on.
Hell Of A Spin (Ire)
- J: M. P. Sheehy
- T: Adrian Keatley
- F: 2133
- Age
- 2
- Weight
- 9st 2lbs
- Or
- -
Hamilton maiden winner who excelled himself up in class when third in Group 3 Molecomb at Glorious Goodwood and confirmed that was no fluke when filling the same position in the Gimcrack at York. Will do very well to place in this, though.
Force Noir (Ire)
- J: David Egan
- T: Robson De Aguiar, Ireland
- F: 2101
- Age
- 2
- Weight
- 9st 2lbs
- Or
- -
Confirmed debut promise when clear-cut winner of maiden at Naas. Did too much too soon in first-time blinkers when down the field in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot on sole run for Kevin Philippart De Foy but resumed progress when winning at Dundalk last week. Much more needed again, though.
Timeform Verdict
The highly-promising INNER CITY BLUES can provide Charlie Appleby with a third successive win in this Group 1, with his July Stakes form looking well up to standard despite the small field. Orthodox is the obvious threat if reproducing his Royal Ascot form, while the unbeaten Push The Boat Out looks the pick of the Irish.
Betting Forecast
15/8 Inner City Blues (Ire), 3/1 Orthodox, 7/2 Push The Boat Out (Ire), 7/1 Marco Polo (Ire), 20/1 Confucius (Ire), 66/1 Hell Of A Spin (Ire), 40/1 Force Noir (Ire)
Saturday 26 September 2026
Haydock Park
Market Rasen
Newmarket (Rowley)
Ripon
Southwell
Auteuil
Churchill Downs
Belmont Park
Merano
Lyon Parilly
Santa Anita
Hanshin
Curragh
Listowel
Delaware Park
Rosehill
Durbanville
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