Richard Fahey happy with Ribchester ahead of Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot racecourse
Ribchester has already notched up three Group 1 wins this season and looks to be a hot favourite for the Ascot contest
RICHARD FAHEY reports Ribchester's preparation has "gone according to plan" ahead of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
Fahey's stable star has been brilliant this season bar one blip on bottomless ground at Goodwood when beaten by Here Comes When.
Fahey said: "Everything has gone according to plan. He's a very easy horse to train with no issues, touch-wood.
"I'm able to get the work into him when I want and he's a very willing horse who enjoys his work, which is a huge help.
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"He tends to go on any ground. When he got beaten at Goodwood I'm not blaming the ground, I'm blaming the conditions - it was blowing a gale and pouring down with the rain.
It was a horrible day. If you've ever run yourself in rain and wind, it's not comfortable and it just caught him out, but he's bounced back and won a Group 1 in France since so we are very happy and comfortable with him."
Aidan O'Brien saddles Churchill, Lancaster Bomber and Sir John Lavery.
The Ballydoyle maestro said: "Churchill is in good form and everything has gone well with him since Leopardstown.
Matt Chapman's TV tips
1.25 Ascot - Order Of St George: 'No doubt in my mind the best stayer in the business'
2.00 Ascot - Caravaggio: 'He's top class when on song'
2.40 Ascot - Coronet: 'Will be held up off the pace and might just come past them late on'
3.15 Ascot - Ribchester: 'The best miler about and should take all the beating'
3.50 Ascot - Cliffs Of Moher: 'A horse who has a huge success in him at some stage'
4.30 Ascot - GM Hopkins: 'He goes on any ground and trained by the genius Johnny G'
"We're looking forward to seeing him run. Leopardstown was just a bit of a mess."
Andrew Balding is set to run the improving Beat The Bank who blew away his rivals in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket when last seen.
Balding said: "Beat The Bank has done very well for us this year. He's been very progressive and seems to handle any type of ground.
"He won the Joel Stakes emphatically and deserves a step up in class. Only time will tell whether he is up to it, but we hope so."
The Kingsclere handler also saddles shock Sussex winner Here Comes When and will be encouraged by the forecast.
"He's obviously a much better horse when there is a lot of rain around," Balding added.
"He's in great form and is a horse who historically goes very well fresh."