Illinois can come to the fore for Aidan O’Brien in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster.
The colt is one of three entrants for the yard and joins stablemates Jan Brueghel and Grosvenor Square in a field of seven for the final Classic of the season.
The son of Galileo has had a fine season, landing the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot before finishing second in both the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp and the Great Voltigeur at York.
That latter loss was by just a neck from the highly-regarded Los Angeles, another stablemate to whom conceding such a narrow defeat is no shame as he was previously the winner of the Irish Derby.
The Doncaster contest is a step back up in trip for Illinois, though he should have no qualms with that after his Ascot success, and the slightly unsettled forecast is no issue either, as he is proven on varying ground.
Earlier on the same card is the Betfred Champagne Stakes, where John and Thady Gosden’s Chancellor holds a superb chance for owner-breeder Cheveley Park Stud.
The Kingman two-year-old has two wins from three starts under his belt already, with the sole loss coming in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot in July.
The form from that race was upheld when New Century won the Stonehenge Stakes and he and the winner, Godolphin’s Al Qudra, will cross paths again in the Grade One bet365 Summer Stakes at Woodbine – a good indicator of how well they are regarded by connections.
As for Chancellor, he returned to winning ways at Doncaster when taking a novice event by over three lengths next time out, course and distance form that makes him hard to look beyond on this return to Town Moor.
Over the same seven-furlong trip is the Betfred Park Stakes, a Group Two for older horses where Ralph Beckett’s evergreen Kinross can bounce back to form.
The seven-year-old won the race in 2022 and has a CV that includes an array of successes at the top level.
He may have been below par when eighth in the July Cup and then third as the favourite in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood, but neither run was completely without merit and he has been able to put disappointments behind him in the past.
Kinross was not able to defend his title in the City of York Stakes due to unsuitable ground, but he should be at home on the going at Doncaster, even if it were to ease up slightly.
At Leopardstown, there is top-class action in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, where a brilliant field of eight is set to assemble.
Amongst them is William Haggas’ Economics, an eye-catching winner of the Dante at York in May when coming home six lengths to the good.
He missed the Derby and was not seen again until lining up for the Group Two Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville, where he strolled to a two-length victory to display his ability again.
Economics faces a tougher task in Ireland but seems to have plenty more to offer as a big horse yet to hit his peak.
Saturday racing tips
BATH: 3.15 Change Of Fortune, 3.55 Hawk Jet, 4.30 Ellomate, 5.05 So Smart, 5.35 Many Men, 6.05 Great David, 6.35 Hawajes, 7.05 Firenze Rosa.
CHESTER: 1.35 Sir Peter Fossick, 2.05 Al Qareem, 2.40 Tashkhan, 3.20 Pont Neuf, 4.05 Stressfree, 4.40 Boy Douglas, 5.15 Oman, 5.55 Dreams Adozen.
DONCASTER: 1.50 Chancellor, 2.25 Shagraan, 3.00 Kinross, 3.40 ILLINOIS (NAP), 4.15 King Lear, 4.50 Scandinavia, 5.25 Native Warrior.
LEOPARDSTOWN: 1.10 Bubbling, 1.40 Delacroix, 2.15 Maljoom, 2.50 Fallen Angel, 3.25 Economics, 4.00 Sumiha, 4.35 Comfort Zone, 5.10 Rahmi, 5.45 Snellen.
LINGFIELD: 12.55 Ship To Shore, 1.25 Go Wild, 2.00 Marchogion, 2.35 Almaty Star, 3.10 Lunarscape, 3.50 Katie G, 4.23 Orbital, 4.58 Bobacious.
MUSSELBURGH: 4.10 Believe Me Now, 4.45 Antonin Dvorak, 5.20 Monticristo Boy, 5.50 Mon Etoile, 6.20 Yorkindness, 6.50 Ramon Di Loria, 7.18 Cuban Rock.
DOUBLE: Illinois and Chancellor.