Fascinating Rock a solid choice for Windsor Group 3 glory

Pat Smullen takes a day off from the defence of his Irish jockey's title to partner Fascinating Rock in Windsor's Group 3 Saturday evening feature, a potential step towards Group 1 autumn glory.

Dermot Weld’s star has been rather overshadowed by his exciting stable companion Free Eagle for much of his career, but brings a 119 rating to the Winter Hill Stakes which should make him hard to beat despite topweight.

Ambitions

Considering he had the King George hero Postponed and The Grey Gatsby behind him when narrowly beaten by Al Kazeem in May's Tattersalls Gold Cup, Group 1 ambitions for the colt appear entirely legitimate.

Ground conditions might yet prevent a tilt at the Irish Champion Stakes in a fortnight but October's English Champion, for which Fascinating Rock is already as low as 14-1, could prove his ultimate shot at top-flight success.

“It’s a lovely race the boss picked out for him. He’s coming back after a long break but it was always the plan to have an autumn campaign,” Smullen said. “His best run was his last race and if he reproduces that form we’re in business.”

Smullen misses out on Wexford's Saturday card, where Leigh Roche steps in for the Weld runner, Alveena, in the opening fillies maiden.

Joseph O'Brien rides Los Barbados for Ballydoyle in the other maiden and is also reunited with the John Kiely-trained Henry's Girl in the first of the handicaps.