Get Cirrus

GET CIRRUS 
How long Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) can keep going is open to question, but recent evidence suggests that the 8-year-old remains at a pitch few can reach as he returns to Ascot's G1 Qipco Champion S. for a fourth time today. Injured during his latest top-level triumph in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom June 7, the evergreen veteran looked rusty a fortnight ago on his comeback when demoted from first to fifth in Longchamp's G2 Prix Dollar that he has used as a prep race for this each time he has made the trip. Having beaten So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) in the inaugural running of this contest at its new venue in 2011, the bay has played second fiddle to Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) on his two subsequent attempts, but may be in less deep waters this year. Few could argue that he is not at his very best in 2014, securing three consecutive Group 1 wins for the first time in his career in Longchamp's Apr. 27 Prix Ganay and May 25 Prix d'Ispahan and the Coronation Cup, in which he disposed of the eventual Arc runner-up Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) with relative comfort, despite going lame in the closing stages. “Everything is perfect,” trainer Corine Barande-Barbe told PA Sport. “The horse is looking very good and we are very much looking forward to the race. He is the favorite and we have big hopes he can win, of course, but the race is never won until after it is run. The ground will be soft, but that should not be a problem–he knows how to swim!” 

Third last year, Al Shaqab Racing, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Ruler of the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is back in a similar vein, having finished ninth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp 13 days ago. Considering last year's G1 Epsom Derby hero had previously beaten Flintshire with ease in the G2 Prix Foy over that track and trip Sept. 14 and is certain to improve with age, being a half-brother to Duke of Marmalade (Ire) (Danehill), his claims are strong. “He's been very lightly raced this year and Aidan certainly wouldn't be running him if he wasn't happy with how he'd come out of the Arc,” Al Shaqab's racing advisor Harry Herbert told PA Sport. “The ground was a little bit lively for him in Paris, but he ran very well in this race last year and he has his favored ground, so I think it's the right spot for him. Cirrus des Aigles is always a tough nut to crack, particularly on this ground, but our horse was close to him last year and is a year older and a year stronger now.” 

Two years after Frankel's emotional swansong here, it would be remarkable if his less illustrious but notably talented full-brother Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) could bring up a rare double for Lady Cecil's Warren Place establishment. Khalid Abdullah's 5-year-old has come of age this term due to a combination of positive tactics and easy ground, and has the latter in his favor again here. His two defeats of the subsequent G2 Hardwicke S. winner and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. runner-up Telescope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Gordon Richards S. at Sandown Apr. 25 and G3 Huxley S. at Chester May 8 were followed by a first success at this level in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh May 25. Awarded another after his last-gasp conqueror Spiritjim (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) was subsequently disqualified from first place in the June 29 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud due to a prohibited substance, the homebred was again caught late on by the 3-year-old Lucky Lion (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) when second in Munich's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis over this trip last time July 27. “I couldn't be happier with him. He did his last piece of work on Saturday and just loved it,” Lady Cecil explained. “Just to have a runner at QIPCO British Champions Day is wonderful, but to have one in with a chance is a privilege and is not something to be taken lightly.” 
Beaten only by Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in three starts so far, Moyglare Stud's J “TDN Rising Star” J Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) was so impressive on his belated return in the G3 KPMG Enterprise S. over this trip at Leopardstown Sept. 13 that he occupied favoritism for this race for a spell. Testing ground has undermined confidence in the homebred, and trainer Dermot Weld is set to walk the track this morning before committing him. “Free Eagle is very well, in really good form,” he told PA Sport. “I am not concerned about the quality of my horse, I am convinced that he is up to this class.” 

One who could spring a surprise is the race's forgotten horse Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is unbeaten racing right-handed over 10 furlongs. Successful in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh last May prior to follow-up wins in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot and G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown that season, John Deer's homebred was a latest 10th in the Longchamp showpiece, having been fifth in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown Sept. 13, but encounters far more favorable conditions here than on those two occasions. 

John Manley's Pether's Moon (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) warrants respect on his latest easy win in the 12-furlong G3 Cumberland Lodge S. here two weeks ago, but needs to show he has the pace for this challenge to justify his supplementary entry. “It is a logical step for him and he deserves a crack at that monumental prize money,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “He is very versatile ground-wise and he has plenty of speed, so the drop back in trip should not be a problem.” 

Robin Geffen and Rachel Hood's Western Hymn (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) was impressive when annexing the G2 Prix Eugene Adam over this trip at Maisons-Laffitte July 20, but has questions to answer following his subsequent sixth in Deauville's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano also at this distance Aug. 15. Another outsider with claims is Mohammed Jaber's Sheikhzayedroad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) after his consecutive wins in the July 26 G2 York S. and GI Northern Dancer Turf S. over 12 furlongs at Woodbine last time Sept. 14.