Arod drops to a mile for Lockinge

It will be his first run at the trip since his debut as a two-year-old in late 2013, but since then he has built a profile as a very classy colt. His second to The Grey Gatsby in last year's Gr.2 Dante Stakes at York looked very smart when the winner landed the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club and Gr.1 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, while his fourth place to Australia in the Gr.1 Investec Derby was another top-class effort.

The Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Arod made his seasonal debut at Newmarket last month in the Gr.3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes sponsored by Weatherbys, and ran a fine race to finish second, beaten three-quarters of a length by French Navy. Andrea Atzeni rode him in public for the first time on that occasion, and will be in the saddle again today, although Qatar Racing's other declared candidate, Trade Storm, is now a non-runner.

Qatar Racing's only other runner in Europe today is Wet Sail, one of 14 declared for the Listed Toronado Carnarvon Stakes (14.35). The Charlie Fellowes-trained three-year-old won at Salisbury last year and put up a good effort when third to Limato in a valuable race at Ripon.

Fellowes expects Wet Sail to improve for today's outing, and hopes it will be a stepping stone to bigger races later in the season.

Picture of Arod after finishing fourth in last year's Investec Derby - Laurence Squire