Giant's Causeway is favourite to capture the Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket on October 14th, The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt, whose winning run in Group One events ended in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last time, is 3 to 1 with Corals. Plans remain fluid for the three-year-old, who could go for the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park en route to a crack at the Breeders' Cup Classic next month.
The Sir Michael-Stoute-trained Kalanisi, who finished second to Giant's Causeway in the CoralEclipse and Juddmonte International, is next best at 7 to 2. And his stablemate Greek Dance, who was runner-up to the Giant's Causeway in the Irish Champion Stakes, is on offer at 9 to 2.
"The 10-furlong championship races this year have been really competitive and exciting and the Champion Stakes looks sure to provide another fantastic race." said Coral spokesman Ian Wassell.
"Giant's Causeway may not be a certain runner, but even without him the likes of Kalanisi, Greek Dance, Indian Lodge and Indian Danehill make for an extremely interesting race."
Betting: 3-1 Giant's Causeway, 7-2 Kalanisi, 9-2 Greek Dance, 71 Indian Danehill, 8-1 Indian Lodge, Shiva, 9-1 Shiva, 12-1 Jim And Tonic, Distant Music, Holding Court, 14-1 bar.
Ruby Walsh moved on to the 31-winner mark for the season when partnering a quick-fire double at Down Royal on Saturday. Sophronia was the first of the jockey's pair to oblige, leading from an early stage to take the opening maiden hurdle by six lengths. Walsh followed up in the next aboard another favourite, Moon Shot, who was completing a hat-trick of handicap hurdle successes for the Galway-based Pearse Racing Club.
Pillar Rock ran out a very impressive seven-length scorer in the featured £10,000 HM Plate. The well-backed 5 to 2 shot moved through effortlessly under Charlie Swan to lead entering the final furlong and was soon clear of his toiling rivals. Favourite Mudaa-eb could only manage a disappointing third.
Five-pound claimer Danny Grant had an afternoon he will probably wish to forget. The apprentice suffered narrow defeats on Summer Break and Freya, and was then forced to give up the ride on his boss Pat Flynn's Steval in the last due to a hand injury. Needless to say, the 8 to 1 chance obliged in another tight finish under substitute Pat Cosgrave.
Officials at Catterick will inspect the course at 2.30 p.m. today to see if tomorrow's meeting can go ahead.
The track is currently unraceable according to clerk of the course John Gundill and a poor weather forecast has prompted the decision to inspect.
"The forecast is very poor for this afternoon and tomorrow and we were left with no choice but to call the inspection," he said.
