Aidan O'Brien can clinch more than just first prize in tomorrow's £216,000 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster - the trainers' championship is also at stake.
Currently £120,000 behind Sir Michael Stoute, O'Brien fields four of the nine runners in the final Group 1 race of the campaign, and the Tipperary wizard can take the honours with Septimus, the chosen mount of stable jockey Kieren Fallon.
Unbeaten in two starts, Septimus, a son of Sadler's Wells, got off the mark in a maiden race at Leopardstown, beating well-fancied stablemate Arabian Prince, and followed-up in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at The Curragh, showing guts as well as class as he battled to victory.
That looks the best form tomorrow and Septimus is taken to come out on top of a field that includes the Stoute-trained Best Alibi, a maiden-race winner at Leicester.
Winged Cupid, winner of both his races for Middleham trainer Mark Johnston, is the North's big hope, but Kevin Darley's mount might have to play a supporting role to Septimus, who bids to provide Aidan O'Brien with his fifth win in this race in nine years.
Polar Ben is napped to clinch the Racing Post Pricewise Conditions Stakes over seven furlongs. Jamie Spencer's mount ran a fine race in defeat when third to Rob Roy in a Group 3 race at Newmarket last time and a reproduction of that form should see him win this time.
At Newbury, Munsef can continue his winning ways by taking the £50,000 Stan James St Simon Stakes.
John Dunlop's three-year-old has made rapid strides since the summer, completing a hat-trick of wins in Listed grade at Newmarket last month.
The £40,000 Stan James Horris Hill Stakes looks a wide-open affair, with Military Cross a value-for-money proposition.
Although stepping-up in class to Group 3 company, William Haggas's colt has won his last two starts in the style of an improving performer. He comes from a soft-ground family on his dam's side, so the conditions are not expected to be against him.
Tim Easterby has good prospects of winning the stanjamesuk.com Radley Stakes with Gallery Girl, who has made significant progress this autumn. Since winning at Haydock she has performed well in high-class company at Ayr and Redcar.
BBC1 are showing the first three races from Aintree, highlighted by the Intercasino.com Molyneux Novices' Chase, with £24,000 prize money. The highly-regarded Andreas could be the one to support, representing the Paul Nicholls-Ruby Walsh partnership, who are also well worth following in the other two televised races from Aintree.
Saturday's tips:
Doncaster
1.50 Yankee George, 2.20 Polar Ben (Nap), 2.55 Fairmile, 3.30 Septimus, 4.05 Manston, 4.40 Reverence, 5.15 Trafalgar Square.
Newbury
Televised races: 2.05 Military Cross, 2.40 Musical Guest, 3.10 Benedict, 3.45 Munsef.
Aintree
Televised races: 1.10 Vale de Lobo, 1.40 Andreas, 2.10 Nycteos.
Chepstow
Televised race: 1.55 Yes Sir.
Tomorrow's other meetings are at Wolverhampton and Kelso.
Updated: 14:16 Friday, October 21, 2005
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