Pearl Secret and Strath Burn in Sprint cup bid

Their profiles are quite different, with Pearl Secret being a proven sprinter at the top level, superb at five furlongs and very good at six, including when fifth in this race last year. He is six years old and twice the age of Strath Burn, who has yet to tackle a Group One event.

He has won his two most recent races, the latest being the Gr.3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury, while Pearl Secret was last seen finishing out of the money in York's Gr.1 Nunthorpe Stakes - with no pace on his side of the course he had to be tracked across to get a tow into the race, and suffered a knock from which he soon recovered.

Oisin Murphy rides the David Barron-trianed Pearl Secret while Andrea Atzeni partners Strath Burn for Charlie Hills, and also gets the leg up on Green Door, who runs in Pearl Bloodstock colours in the preceding race, the Betfred TV Be Friendly Handicap (15.10).

Joe Fanning rides Suzi's Connoisseur for Stuart Williams in a handicap at Ascot (14.50), a track where Cam Hardie rides Engaging Smile in a maiden (17.10) for Richard Hannon.

Today's British runners are completed by the Clive Cox-trained Fruity who tackles a handicap at Kempton (17.15), while Navan hopeful Birdcage (16.10) completes today's European runners.