ALREADY pencilled in as the likely winner of next season's 1,000 Guineas, Russian Rhythm (2.50) has the class to maintain her unbeaten record in today's Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Russian Rhythm is a colossus of a filly, physically way ahead of the majority of her rivals.

And she has an engine to match, kicking in the turbo to extract herself from a unpromising position when trapped on the rails at York last time out, to pick up the Group 2 Lowther Stakes.

The principal opposition will most probably emerge from either Airwave or Ego, both of whom won easily enough on their latest starts.

But neither are in the same league as the selection, said to be the apple of trainer Sir Michael Stoute's eye.

Mark Johnston, who had a double at the track yesterday via Desert Deer and Knavesmire Omen, could easily follow up with Fresh As A Rose (3.25) in the Showcase Handicap.

Formerly trained in Ireland, Johnston struck at the first time of asking with the filly, scoring in decisive fashion at Hamilton on Monday.

On the evidence of that win it's hard to tell whether she's actually well in at weights or not.

Nonetheless with Mark's stable in such invincible form, Fresh As A Rose is surely worth chancing against some admittedly far more experienced opponents.

Michael Dods hasn't been afraid to travel his horses this year and the yard's consistent three-year-old, Smith N Allan Oils (4.10), wouldn't be winning out of turn in the HBLB Handicap at Lingfield.

Over the sticks at Hexham, Aldwych Arrow (3.45), an impressive winner at Sedgefield on Tuesday, is fancied to complete a quick-fire double in the Sanyo Television Novices' Hurdle.

Broadgate Flyer (4.55), who also had a pipe-opener at Sedgefield, can take advantage of his featherweight to get off the mark over fences in the Living North Handicap Chase.

l Aidan O'Brien's dual Derby winner High Chaparral is pressing local hope Sulamani for favouritism in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere at Longchamp on Sunday.

Sulamani remains Coral's 7-4 clear favourite, but High Chaparral has been cut to 2-1 from 9-4, while Aquarelliste is an 8-1 shot with Islington and Marienbard both 9-1.

A maximum of 16 runners will now face the starter following the defection yesterday of Nayef and Tau Ceti.

Nayef will instead bid to repeat last year's victory in the Emirates Airlines Champion Stakes at Newmarket on October 19.

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