Ante-post Update – Sudirman stuns Guineas favourite

Coventry Stakes winner War Command has been eased out to 12-1 for the 2000 Guineas after finishing a disappointing third behind Sudirman on Sunday. The Royal Ascot winner had been promoted to Guineas favourite after routing his field in June but he was always struggling to get to the Railway Stakes winner who passed the post half a length ahead of Big Time.

War Command was a further half length away in third but has now been displaced as Guineas favourite by Sir Michael Stoute’s Kingman (8-1), a likely runner at York’s Ebor meeting. Sudirman has been slashed to 12-1 with O’Brien’s Great White Eagle and Richard Hannon’s Toormore on 10-1.

There was better news for O’Brien in the Debutante Stakes where Tapestry put herself firmly in the picture for next season’s 1000 Guineas. She comfortably held her stable companion Perhaps by a length and three-quarters and is now 8-1 second favourite for the fillies’ classic.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Telescope has been taken out of the betting for the St Leger after his shock defeat at Haydock on Saturday. The one-time Derby hope had been expected to win comfortably following his 24-length romp at Leicester but he could not overhaul David Livingston.

Connections are likely to take their time before making any plans for the colt. John Gosden’s Excess Knowledge has been the best backed horse in the Leger market since his unlucky defeat at Goodwood and is now 6-1 from 8-1.

Al Kazeem is 3-1 clear favourite for the Champion Stakes after several of his likely rivals fluffed their lines over the weekend. Cirrus des Aigles was beaten in France and is now 14-1, the same price as Telescope.

Maputo stepped up in class to win the Group 3 Royal Whip at the Curragh on Sunday and he was given a 12-1 quote for the Champion. Trainer Mark Johnston has no definite plans for the colt who has now won seven of his last eight races.