Popular Opinion Poll backed to thwart Askar's historic double

The oldest race in Britain has an honours board featuring some of the very best stayers to grace the turf, from Double Trigger's triple success to one-time victors Sergeant Cecil (2006) and Persian Punch (2003), who like Le Moss (1979/80) raised the roof at Town Moor.

Marcus Tregoning's five-year-old Askar Tau flopped in the Sagaro Stakes on his return and blinkers replace his usual visor.

The drying ground at Doncaster will be in his favour, though, even at his best he will have his work cut out to halt Opinion Poll's rise through the ranks.

Michael Jarvis's stayer beat Samuel and Electrolyser in the Lonsdale Cup on the Knavesmire and his handler is confident he won't be found wanting for stamina.

Jarvis said: "He's been in good form since he ran at York.

"It's another two furlongs so we're going slightly into the unknown but he has a very relaxed style of running, so we've every hope he'll get the extra two.

"Any further ease in the ground will be in his favour. Up until the rain came earlier in the week he was a doubtful runner.

"He's got a 3lb penalty but that is what you expect – when you win these races, you get penalties."

Last year's runner-up Darley Sun is back for more but isn't the same force since joining Godolphin and he was a long way behind the reopposing Dirar in the Ebor at York last month.

Gordon Elliott's Irish raider is also on a rapid upward curve and his handler is using this afternoon as a guide to possible future targets.

Elliott admitted: "It is a step up but the horse is in good form. He came out of York very well, he's travelled over to Doncaster well and we'll find an awful lot out about the horse.

"It will open up a few doors because we'll find out first whether he is good enough and also if he stays that trip with next year's Cup races in mind.

"He's in very good form. He worked Wednesday morning and worked every bit as well as he did before York."

The Channel 4 cameras are on hand for the first three of today's races – starting with the Polypipe Flying Childers Stakes at 1.35 – and Dinkum Diamond must have an excellent chance of gaining some compensation for an unlucky run in the Nunthorpe at York.

Despite conceding race experience to some seasoned, top-class sprinters and meeting trouble shortly after the start, Henry Candy's juvenile came home like a train to finish on the heels of the placegetters and reverts to his own age group here.

He is closely matched with Richard Hannon's prolific Zebedee on Norfolk Stakes form, but he hasn't had anything like as busy a season as that rival, which will stand him in good stead.

The Keepmoat "Delivering Community Regeneration" May Hill Stakes often provides a pointer to the following season's Classics and Godolphin will be hoping White Moonstone can stake her claims in the Group Two contest. The daughter of Dynaformer numbered today's opponents Al Madina and Musharakaat among her victims when supplementing her debut Ascot success in a Newmarket Group Three, and landing the hat-trick here could see her added to the Fillies' Mile field.

Mount Athos and Tactician fought out the finish of the Melrose at York and lock horns again in the Ladbrokes Mallard Handicap, although the former won't be able to get away with hanging the way he did on the Knavesmire.

Zuider Zee was fourth that day and is among the opposition again, but one that could beat them all is the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Fortuni, who ran better than his finishing position suggests in the Ebor and the stable is absolutely flying at present.

Damika did us a favour when landing the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon and is one of a clutch of legitimate contenders for the Brakes Fresh Ideas Handicap, with Richard Fahey's Irish Heartbeat another major player, particularly if the money comes for him again.

As talking horses go, few have been louder than Frankel, and he looked an exciting prospect for Henry Cecil when laughing at his rivals on his introduction at Newmarket. He takes the next step up the ladder in the Frank Whittle Partnership Conditions Stakes, which could tee him up for a tilt at one of the big end-of-season prizes.

Godolphin's Farhh, also an easy winner at Headquarters on his sole appearance, presents Frankel with the sternest challenge, and his jockey Frankie Dettori warms up for his ride on hot St Leger favourite Rewilding when partnering course and distance winner Willing Foe in the concluding Universal Recycling Classified Stakes.

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