Legend returns for cavalry charge

Robin Bastiman's durable eight-year-old makes his fifth consecutive appearance at the fixture in today's King George Stakes and the Wetherby trainer hopes his seemingly ageless stable star can win for the first time this season and record a lucky 13th career win.

The admirable sprinter, now a veteran, was fourth in this race 12 months ago. A winner of the prestigious Stewards' Cup in 2006, he was then second and third in the following runnings of the annual Goodwood cavalry charge.

Bastiman reports Borderlescott, the two-time Yorkshire horse of the year, to be in his usual reliable form as he has his last run before trying to win York's valuable Nunthorpe Stakes for the third successive year.

"He seems well enough and he's ready for going again. He's got a reasonable draw (stall 10) in the middle," said the trainer.

"Kieren can see where the pace is and take it from there. They seem to be running well down the middle anyway. Hopefully, it will be his day.

"Our regular jockey Neil Callan, has a ban so he can't ride which is annoying, but we've got a good substitute.

"Everything has to fall right in these races. He's older now but he's still retains his ability. And he definitely goes to York next."

The horse to beat appears to be Astrophysical Jet. Not only is the Ed McMahon-trained horse just three-years-old but she is in receipt of a seven-pound weight allowance for fillies and was an impressive winner at Newmarket's July meeting.

"She's on the upgrade. I've always held her in high regard and because she's rated 101

now there's a lack of opportunities for her so while we haven't been backed into a corner, I thought we may as well take a chance," said Lichfield-based McMahon.

"Because of the weight-for-age and fillies' allowance she's getting a good deal of weight off most of the field."

Thirsk trainer Bryan Smart is hoping his two runners, Moorhouse Lad, winner of this race in 2007, and the visored Spin Cycle, will be able to show their best form.

"I probably ran Moorhouse Lad too quick (at Sandown) after his trip to France. It was my fault," said Smart.

"He seems very well in himself and he likes the track. He's in good order and I'm hoping he will run up to his best ability.

"If Spin Cycle repeats the form of his Haydock run (fourth in the Temple Stakes), he won't be far away at all. I think he could have done with a bit of help in Ireland last time. He seems in good form and we're putting a visor on him. I'm hoping that will help him concentrate."

Today's feature is the Artemis Goodwood Cup where John Dunlop's improving York winner Tactic takes on Aidan O'Brien's Age of Aquarius, the Ascot Gold Cup winner.

Yet the most popular winner in the race would be Free Agent, another York winner this season, and whose owner is The Queen.

Her Majesty is unsure whether her four-year-old will stay the two-mile trip, even though he won the John Smith's Silver Cup over one-and-three-quarter miles at York with apparent ease.

Next month's Ebor at York was regarded as a more realistic target. But trainer Richard Hannon is adamant that the former Royal Ascot winner is laden with stamina, and is so confident that he persuaded his Royal owner to relent.

"I have had several conversations with Her Majesty about Free Agent and we differ in our views," said Hannon. "She is of the opinion that maybe we should be dropping back in trip, whereas I feel that all the horse does is stay and that we should be looking to go up in distance.

"Free Agent did my case no harm when winning at York last time, so the Queen and John Warren (racing manager) have agreed to let us have a go at the big one."

HANNON AND HUGHES PROVE THE WINNING COMBINATION

SIR Robert Ogden's King Torus is a contender for next season's Classics after running out an impressive six-length scorer of the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Despite carrying a 3lb penalty for his victory in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, the two-year-old, trained by Richard Hannon, never looked in any bother before jockey Richard Hughes kicked on a furlong out, with Mark Johnston's Stentorian a creditable second.

"It was a serious performance," said Hughes as William Hill cut the colt from 33s to 20-1 for next season's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Hannon said the horse would run in either the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, or Newmarket's Dewhurst Stakes. "He doesn't show you a lot at home but he's a real star and could be anything."

Hannon and Hughes were the in-form combination – the triumph of King Torus preceded the expected victory of Canford Cliffs in the feature Sussex Stakes.

The 4-6 odds-on favourite produced a memorable turn of speed in the final furlong to defy Aidan O'Brien's Rip Van Winkle and confirm his status as one of Europe's top milers following his wins in the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.