Al Aasy too classy at Newbury

Al Aasy is certainly getting wiser the older he gets and now at the age of 7 he can sometimes have his own ideas about the game. That said he has been a grand servant to connections and after a good 2nd here at Newbury in July (over a distance shorter than ideal) he was a clear cut winner at Goodwood last time out. He travelled very well through the race that day and went into the lead with the minimum of fuss before winning by 1 length. If he is in the same kind of mood today he has the class to win again and rates a 4 star win Pick.

Horses don't come much better bred than Kikkuli, being a Kingman half brother to the mighty Frankel and although not quite in the same league as his brother, Kikkuli has developed into a very decent sort in his own right. He was just touched off in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot by Haatem (solid yardstick) over 7f when beaten a short-head. Connections decided to pitch him into Group 1 company at Deauville next time and he ran a fair race to finish 6th of 12. Now back on home soil at his local track and on slightly faster ground Kikkuli can carry on his progressive dropped to Group 2 level. Most of his siblings have improved with age and Kikkuli could be the same. Kikkuli rates a 4 star win Pick.