Phoenix Tower by Chester House out of the Zafonic mare Bionic can prove that 1m 2f is his best distance and win Henry Cecil his fourth Eclipse Stakes.

Very lightly raced for a 4-y-o he has had only six runs and his form this year has been most progressive. He had Pipdreamer a head and a neck behind over 1m 1f at Newmarket in April and then ran a superb race to be second 3/4l behind Creachador in the Group1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

He took a very strong hold and could well have been closer if he’d settled better. He ran a very strong race when second to Duke Of Marmalade at Royal Ascot getting going late and staying on well to snatch second place from Pipedreamer on the line.

With rain forecast for the weekend there should be some easing of the ground which may well suit him.

At Haydock Luca Cumani appears to hold a strong hand with Mad Rush and Ladys Best in the Old Newton Cup – a race he has won for the last two years.

Mad Rush – raised another 5lbs for coming 2nd at Royal Ascot – his fourth 2nd in a row may be in the grip of the handicapper. With easy ground forecast the Andrew Balding trained Buccellati is the each-way selection. He stayed on strongly over 1m 4f on easy ground off a mark of 96 to win at Ascot in October.

Returning to 1m 4f for the first time this year with conditions to suit he looks to have a great chance off a mark of 102.

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