Mouthwatering Cheveley Park remains in prospect at Newmarket

Senorita Bonita, Sun Goddess and Libertango remain on course for a mouthwatering clash at Newmarket on Saturday, with the top-class trio among eight fillies confirmed for the Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes.

Senorita Bonita has won three of her four starts to date for Simon and Ed Crisford, with her only defeat coming at the hands of Aidan O’Brien’s Victorious in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.

The daughter Starspangledbanner got the better of George Boughey’s Libertango in Newmarket’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes in July, and then beat the boys with a dominant display in last month’s Prix Morny at Deauville.

Sun Goddess has won her last four races for Aidan O’Brien, a run encompassing Group One victories in the Phoenix Stakes and Moyglare Stud Stakes and a runaway success in a valuable sales race at York.

Libertango beat Sun Goddess in the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting and while she had to play second fiddle to Senorita Bonita on the July course, she has since won the Lowther at York.

Joseph O’Brien has left in Star Of State, second to Libertango on the Knavesmire before plundering a valuable prize on Irish Champions weekend, as well as Alwaysanangel, who was third in the Duchess of Cambridge and has since won in Listed company at Cork.

Ballydoyle outsider Snowing, Andrew Balding’s Moonrise and Robson De Aguiar’s Controlla complete the potential field.

Ten juvenile colts remain in the mix for the other Group One on the card, the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes.

Coventry Stakes winner Great Barrier Reef leads a five-strong Aidan O’Brien team that also includes Marco Polo, Confucius, Man’s Best Friend and Carry The Flag, while son Joseph could saddle the impressive National Stakes winner Folsom Blue.

Michael O’Callaghan’s Push The Boat Out beat Great Barrier Reef in last month’s Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh and could take him on again, with the home team headed by Charlie Appleby’s dual winner Inner City Blues and Clive Cox’s Norfolk Stakes scorer Orthodox, who needs to put a disappointing run in the Prix Morny behind him.

Inner City Blues has been given a break since doubling his tally in the July Stakes and Appleby is looking forward to testing his powers at the top table.

“I worked him last week up at Newmarket and he worked well. I was pleased and he needed it as well as he’s been dormant since the July Stakes,” he said.

“That has definitely brought him forward and from what I’ve seen the last week he’s definitely back on his A game. I’m looking forward to it.”

Adrian Keatley’s outsider Hell Of A Spin and De Aguiar’s supplemented Dundalk winner Force Noir are the other possibles.

Aidan O’Brien is responsible six of the 13 two-year-olds to stand their ground for the Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes, with Aix La Chapelle and Giant Sequoia perhaps the best of them.

The hot favourite is Appleby’s Ascendant Stakes winner First Law, but the Moulton Paddocks handler has warned he is not a certain runner.

Appleby added: “If the ground is quick I would contemplate giving the Royal Lodge a swerve. We know he handles slow ground, so we could keep an eye on Doncaster and the Futurity Trophy.

“It’s supposed to be a dry week and I’m not overly sure the quick ground and dare I say it, the dip, would be to his liking so it’s something I will be keeping an eye on.

“If it is quick he might be unlikely to turn up there.”

Karl Burke’s unbeaten colt Burning Up also features, as does Ed Walker’s Solario winner Alfred Wallace.

Hand Of God heads the weights for the bet365 Cambridgeshire after 35 horses stayed in at the confirmation stage.

Leading hopes include the Gosdens’ recent Ascot victor Gavriel and Indalo from Roger Varian’s yard.