Given his stable has won the last three renewals and his profile, SERIOUS CHALLENGE was never likely to be missed by the market but while it's possible to quibble with his price, his claims are obvious. Unlike some of his rivals, this trip appears to be ideal for him at present and his stable has been among the winners. His first handicap effort in a warm final at Sandown is creditable and, although he'll need to fulfil that promise in order to win this, that is eminently feasible and he has room for progress from his current mark.
Venetia Williams hasn't had a runner since May and BUCKSY DES EPEIRES lost his way after the New Year so there are obvious question marks over the six-year-old's chance but he impressed on last year's reappearance when accounting for three rivals; one of whom has raced twice since without success while the other pair have won six times between them. The form is solid, his mark decent and he looks worth chancing on this return despite the aforementioned reservations.
The last of three Group 1s at the track can see DOUBLE MAJOR repeat his success of the last two years. First run in 1861, no horse has ever won the Royal Oak on three occasions but it looks as though Christophe Ferland and connections have set their stall out to make history having bypassed the Cadran (won this year by Caballo De Mer) in which he finished a distant fifth behind Kyprios last year. Double Major has held his form well this season but looks to be peaking for the autumn again and is preferred to those that run during the Arc weekend.
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MART can show the benefit of last month's pipe-opener on his return to a track that has yielded two wins and three places from seven visits. A winner here on grass in May [2 lb lower today], he struggled in two subsequent runs before being given a holiday at the end of June. Never competitive at Southwell (0/2 at the track) last time, that run saw the handicapper ease his grip and Mart is now on his lowest mark for almost two years and he can capitalise at a course where his trainer has a good strike rate while Cieren Fallon is a positive booking for the yard.
The handicapper has given a few of the elder statesmen a chance while Noche Clasica is of interest on debut for Ed Bethell but few come here in as good form as GOOD HEAVENS. A useful dual purpose performer for Joseph O'Brien, Good Heavens was rated as high as 101 on the level in Ireland but won off just 77 on his fifth start for the Quinns. Unlucky in the run at Nottingham last time (fourth won at Doncaster on Saturday) off 84, he's clearly in good heart and capable of running another big race.
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