Blue is the colour, Doyen is the name

Blue is the colour this weekend with two Godolphin horses hot favourites to add to their incredible tally of 110 Group One wins. Doyen runs in the Bailey’s Irish Champion Stakes in what looks like one of the best races of the season. It is testimony to his class that he could start odds-on at Leopardstown, despite the presence of the winners of the St.James Palace Stakes, Prince of Wales Stakes and Irish Derby in the field.

The competition is good but Doyen is better. He looked unbeatable when winning the Hardwicke Stakes by six lengths at the Royal meeting, in a course record time. Though this is two furlongs less he does not want for speed. At his best Rakti would be the one horse in the field that could take Doyen on. But as anyone who witnessed his horror-show running in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes will know, he is just as likely to throw his chance away by pulling too hard.

The last classic of the season, the betfair.com St. Leger Stakes hasn’t quite got the star quality of the Irish Champion but Godolphin’s Rule Of Law is a worthy favourite. He was second in the Derby and won the Great Voltigeur, which is the best trial. The form is in the book, but Rule Of Law’s breeding suggests that there is not enough stamina to win a St.Leger and Godolphin may have to wait a little while yet for 112 Group Ones.

It would be no surprise to see Let The Lion Roar go on from being placed in the Voltigeur to win, Bollin Eric did just that in 2002. But with rain forecast the filly Quiff looks like the one to side with. Her victory in the Yorkshire Oaks was high class and there could be further improvement to come.

In the Polypipe Flying Childers Stakes Sumora looks a strong contender.

Selections

3:15 Doncaster - Quiff (win)

3:30 Leopardstown - Doyen (win)

3:45 Doncaster - Sumora (win)