Timeform

🇫🇷🏆 𝙆𝘼𝙇𝙋𝘼𝙉𝘼 tops Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Andrew Balding’s charge is enjoying a stellar season, winning the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and the Yorkshire Oaks on her two most recent starts.

Her figure of 140 puts her a pound clear of last year’s winner and current favourite Daryz. He had Kalpana back in seventh in the 2025 renewal but the British raider was posted wide that day and has fared better in the draw this time around (stall 6).

Diamond Necklace hasn’t – widest of all in 16 – but is third-in on the figures, two pounds further back at 137. She’s ahead of both of her stablemates Minnie Hauk (134+) and Benvenuto Cellini (134).

Three-year-olds Maltese Cross and Thundering On are both on 135p – the 'p' symbol indicating Timeform feel both are open to improvement. Connections of the former are delighted by the forecast good ground at the weekend for their Grand Prix de Paris and Sky Bet Great Voltigeur winner.

Thundering On was brilliant when landing the Betfred Oaks and after failing to perform at the same level in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh next time, was back to form returned there for the Blandford Stakes. Pierre-Charles Boudot replaces the injured Dylan Browne McMonagle in the saddle.

Betfred Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller (135) is high on the list with Meisho Tabaru (133) the highest-rated Japanese runner.

🔵 An imposing, grand-looking sort, 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗟𝗘 (𝟭𝟭𝟯𝗽 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟵𝟰𝗣) produced another impressive display in the Ch*****ne Stakes at Doncaster, to make it two wins from two starts.

A high-class c**t in the making for Charlie Appleby, the Dewhurst is surely next up and he'll head there as a leading contender.

Desert Castle's performance of a similar merit to Too Darn Hot and Chaldean in the last decade. Both of whom followed up in the Dewhurst, and better than last year's winner Puerto Rico, who won Group 1s on his next 2 starts.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 is now rated 𝟭𝟭𝟮𝗽 with Timeform, after winning the inaugural running of the (Group 1) Golden Fleece Stakes at Leopardstown.

Very strong in the market on the back of a wide-margin maiden win, catapulted himself towards the top of this season's 2-y-o ratings with another dominant display, smart already and with the promise of even more to come.

It was no surprise to see him promoted to ante-post favourite for next year's Epsom Derby on the back of this but his trainer intimated afterwards that he may not be done for the season just yet, a trip to the Breeders' Cup one of a number of options reportedly under consideration.

🏆 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗠𝗔𝗡 has been given a Timeform rating of 𝟭𝟭𝟵𝗽 following his victory in the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.

Stamina is his forte and he’ll go on improving as he’s stretched out even further in trip, already seeming the biggest threat to Scandinavia's Gold Cup crown next season.

HIGHWAYMAN, trained by Joseph O'Brien, has a bizarre profile for a Classic winner; refused a mark after a trio of runs in maidens then going unbeaten in 3 starts since upped markedly in trip, the winning aggregate of those almost 14 lengths.

📊 𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘𝗥: 𝗪𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧-𝗔𝗗𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 🏆

Here's how the field measure up on the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings heading into Saturday's feature at Doncaster, the final UK Classic of the 2026 Flat season.

Derby winner 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗠𝗔𝗦 𝗗𝗔𝗬 sets the standard on 132, and this test is likely to bring out the best in him, given the manner of his gruelling Derby victory and his 2 starts subsequently. He bids provide Aidan O'Brien with a fourth straight win in Britain's oldest Classic.

Joseph O'Brien saddles the progressive pair 𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗨𝗦 (𝟭𝟯𝟬𝗽) and 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗠𝗔𝗡 (𝟭𝟭𝟴𝗽), with the former looking the strongest challenger on form, while Christmas Day's stablemate 𝗣𝗜𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗗 (𝟭𝟮𝟵) should be on the premises again.