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.

Still in situ, for the moment at least, is the chief executive, Ian McMahon, whose CV when he joined in March 2022 included roles in football, rugby and golf, but no prior experience in racing. Amid the fallout from long-running inquiry which eventually saw Robbie Dunne banned for 18 months – which was reduced to 10 months on appeal – for bullying his fellow rider, Bryony Frost, and the PJA’s horribly ill-judged response to the decision, it was seen by some as a positive that McMahon arrived with a clean slate in racing terms. Chester 2.05: Seantrabh is well drawn in three and has been dropped 1lb since a promising handicap debut, with useful apprentice Zak Wheatley taking off another 5lb. 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. Royal Ascot’s racegoers – Eliza Doolittle excepted – are not generally given to roaring them home like they do at Cheltenham, but it would be no great surprise, after two years away, if they let themselves off the leash a little this week.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 This time, he faces another odds-on shot in Bravemansgame, the seven-length runner-up in this year’s Gold Cup, as well as Corach Rambler, the Grand National winner, and a high-class course specialist in Royale Pagaille. 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. Newbury 1.30 A 455-day absence has to be a slight concern about Sense Of Duty but William Haggas’s filly has looked highly talented in her limited career to date and will be tough to beat if anywhere close to her best. 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.

Ascot 2.05: The lightly raced Theatre Glory has gone well fresh in the past and could have the measure of the quirky Goshen. 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. At least part of the reason for the growth in Cheltenham’s popularity over the last quarter-century has been the excellence of its marketing and branding. They do not sell just a day at the races, they sell a day at Cheltenham races, as something distinct and unique. And since a premium experience tends to come at a premium price, the fact that their attendance figures remain strong suggests that the racegoers feel, overall, that they are getting what they paid for. 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. 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.”

Morgan added his name to a roll of honour that includes Harry Cobden, Sam Twiston-Davies and Brian Hughes when he secured the conditionals’ title in the spring, but told the Racing Post last week that his body paid the price. Newcastle 1.30 With Vera Verto likely to set a decent pace, Sound Angela could improve on her fast-finishing third in a similar event at Saint-Cloud in September. But there is no longer any such thing as a low-profile card at Cheltenham, this side of the Festival at least, and Saturday’s meeting at the home of jumping attracted a new record attendance for the day of 19,471. Charlie Hills’s four-year-old was caught without cover on desperate ground at Goodwood but travelled well for much of the way until fading inside the final furlong. Orazio (3.35) was previously a creditable sixth at the royal meeting, still looks well handicapped on his earlier winning form at Ascot and Newmarket and a strongly run sprint with a little juice in the ground promises to be his ideal combination.

Whether he is a genuine 4-5 chance for Saturday’s race is a different question, however, as Protektorat (3.00) came up with the performance of his career to date under very similar conditions last year.

York 3.05 Maidens are not the most compelling events for betting purposes but Colorada Dancer does at least have some experience on his side.