Sussex Stakes (Group 1)

Paddington is the class act, the revelation of the season, a triple Group 1 winner on his last three starts, he steps back to a mile having proved himself at 10f when winning the Coral-Eclipse having taken the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes prior to that, all on good ground.

Inspiral will have a say. She’s a triple Group 1 winner also, the Fillies’ Mile as a two-year-old, the Coronation Stakes, and the Prix du Jacques le Marois as a three-year-old. Her comeback run was good this year when second in the Queen Anne when beaten a neck.

Aldarry is being backed this morning, second in the G2 Summer Mile last time out to Master Of The Seas , he has form on the ground having won on heavy twice and also on soft including at Listed level.

The French challenger Facteur Cheval will also relish the ground. He was beaten a head in the Prix d’Ispahan by Anmaat and Light Infantry in his last run and has won on heavy and soft in the past.

Charyn had his best run in the St James’s Palace Stakes third to Paddington getting closer than he had when fourth in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He won the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte last year on soft which could give him a chance of a place.

Paddington is very short in the market trading at 8/15 however it’s justified as he’ll handle the ground given he won his Maiden last year by 5L on very soft and took the Madrid Handicap on heavy and the Tetrarch Stakes on soft, all at the Curragh, before going on his Group 1 roll. Inspiral has the class to hold off the others for second place.

Recommendation

Paddington to beat Inspiral (straight forecast)