Handicappers' Corner: Gordon Lords it over his rivals

The Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock was without doubt the best race in Britain over the weekend, and it promised to be a fascinating clash of sprinters at various stages of their careers. However it didn't turn out to be as strong as it had looked, with both Society Rock and Reckless Abandon missing from the line-up, the top-rated Lethal Force well below form, Garswood failing to cope with the drop in trip and the likes of Rex Imperator, Heeraat and Swiss Spirit all failing to fire for a variety of reasons. 

Gordon Lord Byron's task was clearly made easier by the facts mentioned above but that should not detract from his impressive success, building upon some good runs throughout the summer to post a career-best figure of 126, a rating which sits right up there with the best recent winners of this race. The five-year-old thrived at this stage last season, only touched off in this corresponding event before going on to win the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, and he is clearly in fine fettle once more as he heads into his autumnal campaign. 

The second-placed Slade Power recovered from a blip in the Nunthorpe Stakes and, though he wasn't right at his best in posting a performance rating of 115 here, his effort confirmed that he is a Group 1 sprinter and his master rating remains 123, the level he achieved when winning the Group 3 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August.

Both Montiridge and Tawhid, the likely principals pre-race in the Group 3 Superior Mile, ran below expectations whilst others also failed to give their running, which left for a substandard race for the grade. 

Nonetheless, Top Notch Tonto has come a long way in a short period of time since joining Brian Ellison, going from winning a handicap off 87 in late-July to this ultimately-convincing pattern-race success, and he is an undoubtedly much improved performer. Now credited with a Timeform rating of 115, Top Notch Tonto does handle a quicker surface as he is a winner on good to firm, but ground on the softer side appears to be his optimum and he is a force to be reckoned with when granted his conditions. 

The 2013 renewal of the Old Borough Cup maybe wasn't the strongest or most competitive but it is certainly form to view positively, the improving winner Platinum (103) reaping the benefits of his yard's excellent form whilst Clowance Estate (104) and Pallasator (113p), two of the least exposed in the field, filled the places. 

Pallasator is arguably the main one to take out of the race, his effort well worth marking up bearing in mind from how far back in the field he came, and, for all that he didn't look entirely straightforward, he still found plenty for pressure, and it is not inconceivable that he could make an impact in something like the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day. 

The Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton saw a thrilling finish between stablemates Prince Bishop (116) and Royal Empire (119), with the former narrowly emerging on top. In finishing well clear of the remainder they showed form well up to the standard for this race, with the runner-up deserving of equal credit as the winner for racing under a penalty. 

The other Group 3 on Kempton's card, the Sirenia Stakes, contained a couple of disappointments but the pair that already had form in Group company, namely Brown Sugar and Figure Of Speech, were clearly on form and came to the fore. Brown Sugar defied a penalty to emerge on top and is now rated 113, whilst Figure Of Speech (110) got back on track in no uncertain terms to run his best race. He had looked promising earlier in the season and still holds a host of big-race entries, which could hint at the esteem in which he is held. 

With Declaration Of War a late non-runner and the returning Kingsbarns taking no real part in proceedings, the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes lacked a little bit of depth, but that is in no way to detract from the performance of The Fugue (128) who posted a career-best to see off Al Kazeem (128) in impressive fashion. 

This win supplemented The Fugue's taking triumph in the Yorkshire Oaks and she is reportedly under consideration for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Prix de l'Opera, but she would take plenty of beating were she to attempt to avenge her unlucky defeat in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf from last year. 

Both Australia and The United States hit the mark for Aidan O'Brien at Leopardstown, with the first mentioned improving his form markedly and producing a smart performance. Now rated 116p, Australia propelled himself to the head of the 2014 Derby ante-post market and, though he is entered in the top juvenile races for the remainder of this season, he could reportedly be put away until next year. 

The United States was once to the fore of Classic ante-post markets himself but a defeat in May put paid to those prospects. However, after scoring at Tipperary last month he got right back on track in this Group 3, looking suited by a mile and a quarter as he improved his rating to 114p. He is likely to stay a mile and a half and could now belatedly deliver on the promise he showed earlier in his career. 

The only race to mention really on Sunday was the listed Garrowby Stakes at York, a contest staged over six furlongs. It was a competitive affair and looks strong form for the grade, with Hallelujah improving her rating to 110 in beating Ladies Are Forever and Mince in a tight finish. Her ability to handle cut in the ground marks her down as one to keep on side in the autumn. 

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