AIDAN O’Brien is the obvious starting place in this afternoon’s feature race at Doncaster, given that he has 12 William Hill Futuritys on his CV, more than any other trainer. Three Ballydoyle representatives today in a race that could be key in the determination of the British trainers’ championship, headed up by Noble Exhibit.

The Frankel colt was impressive in winning his maiden at Punchestown last month, and he stepped forward from that last time when he won the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh.

He set off in front and it never really looked like he was going to be caught. Wayne Lordan was allowed to set sedate fractions, but he picked up nicely from the front. Also, he had his stable companion Drumbeat almost three lengths back in third, and Drumbeat has since come out and run out an impressive winner of the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket.

But he is short, and he still has to prove that he can handle heavy ground. He stays well, and he may well handle it, but it is something new.

Burning Up won a novice stakes at Haydock on soft ground last month, and the front two finished well clear of their rivals, but he was a long odds-on shot for the race, he was fully expected to win it, and he just got home by just over a length from Hands To Yourself, who was well beaten on heavy ground back at Haydock next time.

Of course, Burning Up has since finished second behind Haffner in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, but he is short. The fact that he has won on soft ground may be over-factored into the market.

Clear progression

Sergei Diaghilev hasn’t run on soft ground, but he has progressed with just about every run this season. Sent off as favourite for the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot after he won his maiden at the Curragh on Irish Guineas weekend, Aidan O’Brien’s horse won a listed race at Gowran in August over a mile, and he put up a career-best performance last time when he finished second to Rock Montreal in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.

He picked up smartly on the near side that day, and he ran all the way to the line, only just giving best to the Godolphin horse, and leaving the impression that he would be better with an even greater test of stamina.

The ground will place an emphasis on stamina today, and we know that the Ballydoyle second and third strings in this race always have to be respected. That brings Giant Sequoia into it too, it was an Aidan O’Brien 1-2-3 last year, but Sergei Diaghilev has that blend of experience and trajectory that could be ideal for a race that will test resolution as well as talent and class.

Liam ready to Rock

Rockonliam could be the answer to the opening novices’ handicap chase at Cheltenham. Henry de Bromhead’s horse is two for two now over fences, and he left the impression that he had more in hand than the six-length winning margin at Wexford last time, a race from which the third horse Ceroc came out and ran well at Clonmel on Thursday.

His British mark of 129 is 11lb higher than the Irish mark off which he won at Wexford, but he won well and he has the potential to progress further.

This is a meeting at which Henry de Bromhead does well, he won this race last year with Zurich, and it is probable that he has had it in mind for Rockonliam for a little while.

Recommended

Rockonliam 1.10 Cheltenham – 1 point win @ 4/1 (generally)

Sergei Diaghilev 1.30 Doncaster – 1 point win @ 7/1 (generally)