Friday's Matchbook Yorkshire Cup sees the reappearance of last season's champion stayer Stradivarius, who took this prize before following up in the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, Lonsdale Cup (again at York) and the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Champions Day.

Such is the five-year-old's class and versatility, trainer John Gosden is reportedly considering the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this season even though a mile and a half looks a distance short of his best.

Stradivarius ought to take all the beating even under a 3lb penalty but, provided all eight runners stand their ground, I would be tempted to take a bit of each-way about MILDENBERGER who tries an extra quarter mile after finishing third to stable companion Communique in the Jockey Club Stakes at the Guineas meeting.

In that race, the winner was given a peach of a ride from the front by Silvestre De Sousa, catching out his rivals for toe when kicking on over two furlongs out off a steady pace, but Mildenberger kept galloping and, in finishing third, split two highly rated runners in Defoe and Coronet.

Runner-up in the Dante (behind easy winner Roaring Lion) at this meeting 12 months ago, the strapping Mildenberger looks the type to relish a stamina test and double-figure prices are worth taking.

On ratings, the selection admittedly has a bit to find with Ispolini and Southern France if he is to at least make the frame. The former appeared to show improved form at Meydan earlier in the year, culminating in a second to his illustrious Melbourne-Cup-winning stable-mate Cross Counter in the Dubai Gold Cup, but I'd like to see him reproduce that here as so much of the Dubai form doesn't travel well.

Southern France could make up into a cup horse this season and his third to Kew Gardens in the St Leger at Doncaster last September was probably his best effort so far. In other starts, however, Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old has looked short of any change of gear including when third at Navan (should improve for the run) on his reappearance last month.