Paul Hanagan fears Native Khan may be soft touch

The champion jockey-elect has picked up the ride on Ed Dunlop's unbeaten Azamour colt as Kieren Fallon surprisingly opted for Brian Meehan's Titus Mills.

Hanagan had an even earlier start than usual on Wednesday morning as he travelled down from his Malton base to partner the two-year-old ahead of his run in the Racing Post Trophy.

However, Hanagan has echoed Dunlop's thoughts from earlier in the week that any rain that falls on Town Moor would be to his detriment.

"He's a nice horse, I sat on him on Wednesday morning and he gave me a real nice feel," said Hanagan. "I've watched his first two races and he seemed to do it really well and I'm really looking forward to it. He's got a nice attitude but we are forecast some rain and I'd be a bit worried about that. I hope we don't get too much as his wins have come on a sound surface.

"It's just on the softer side of good today so hopefully it will dry nicely and we don't get any rain."

Casamento sets the standard for Irish trainer Mick Halford. He will be ridden by Frankie Dettori and will be a rare sight on an English racecourse as he runs in Sheikh Mohammed's famous maroon and white silks.

"Right from the very first day he worked he showed something. We've always liked him," said Halford.

"We've been very pleased with him, everything has gone great and I'm looking forward to it.

"I have a lot of respect for the opposition. They are all good horses. Dunboyne Express looked impressive earlier in the season, he had a bit of a hold-up but I hear they are very sweet on him and I wouldn't take anything for granted. The team at Ballydoyle are always very strong. They have a great record in the race and I believe their horses are working well.''

It is a long time since the Prendergast family sent a two-year-old over for the final Group One of the season.

The unbeaten Dunboyne Express carries plenty of confidence into the race, and his trainer Kevin Prendergast is hoping to emulate his father, the great Paddy Prendergast, who won it twice in three years with the brilliant filly Noblesse in 1962 and Hardicanute in 1964.

"He's been working well at home. He beat Master Of Hounds a head on his first run so it will be interesting to see who has progressed the most," said the trainer. "He had a fair setback, he got an infection in his leg which kept him off for three weeks but I think he's straight enough.''

Meehan's Manton yard are banging in the winners. Titus Mills arrives unbeaten in two races, and connections have been given a boost by Fallon plumping for him over Native Khan. "He's in great form and has progressed well since his nice win at Goodwood," Meehan said. "This has been one of his targets for a long time."

Fallon added: "He's done nothing wrong so far and handles any ground, so if it goes on the soft side it won't bother him. I think it's a very open race this year, there's a couple of horses coming from Ireland, Mick Halford's and Kevin Prendergast's obviously look the hardest to beat.

"Native Khan is in the same boat as I am, he's done nothing wrong but the thing with him is he needs decent ground, so if it rains he could be in trouble.''

Colm O'Donoghue is looking for his second Group One within a week after going to Canada to partner Joshua Tree in the Woodbine International. He has the ride on Aidan O'Brien's Seville, with Johnny Murtagh on Master Of Hounds.

Devastation evoked nostalgic memories of the great Attraction when providing John Gosden with a noteworthy one-two at Doncaster yesterday.

Gosden is always keen to make a good impression in the HRH Princess Royal EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes, and was understandably cock-a-hoop after saddling the first two home, with Izzi Top creating a striking impression on her debut.

Devastation, the second foal of dual Guineas heroine Attraction, idled discernibly once hitting the front two-and-a-half furlongs from home, but the Montjeu filly still offered a tantalising glimpse of her mother's mesmeric engine to defeat her late-rushing stablemate by half a length. "This is one of my favourite fillies' maidens of the year so I'm thrilled," said Gosden, returning to Doncaster for the first time since claiming the St Leger with Arctic Cosmos.

On an afternoon in which HRH Princess Royal was in attendance at the South Yorkshire circuit, it was entirely appropriate to see the Queen's colours carried to success in the Betfair Supports Sia And Heartbeat Appeal Nursery.

Humdrum, trained by Richard Hannon and capably partnered by the trusty Ryan Moore, revelled in the step-up to a mile to narrowly outgun Mariachi Man in an absorbing finish.