Favourite can win Racing Post Trophy but Aidan O'Brien can land blow in Australia

It will, of course, be next season before we can really determine how strong this year's renewal of the Group One is, but Elm Park certainly looks to set the standard and last year's winning jockey Andrea Atzeni may well be celebrating yet again.

Earlier in the season, Atzeni was confirmed as Qatar Racing's new retained rider for next season following the news of Jamie Spencer's impending retirement and Atzeni has already enjoyed getting the leg up on some of the Qatar horses, Elm Park for Andrew Balding being one of them and he looks like a colt who can extend his winning sequence to four on what will be his third start at this trip.

bullets

Aidan O'Brien has won the race eight times and will fire two bullets at the race with Aloft and Jacobean and the latter will undoubtedly make his presence felt after a likeable debut at the Curragh a fortnight ago when second to stable companion Royal Navy Ship.

However, Elm Park looks to be more battle hardened and experienced for this task and should give connection something to look forward to over the winter months.

Aidan O'Brien may have to excuse himself from the first shift at Ballydoyle in the morning as he'll be keen to catch Adelaide running in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. The three-year-old is lining up in one of Australia's biggest races at 7.40am Irish time and he certainly won't be without his chance in the Group One contest despite a bad draw.

Adelaide is drawn in stall 13 of 14 and with a relatively short run to the first bend of the extend 10-furlong contest, Ryan Moore will be looking to get across as quickly as possible.

The Irish raider is set to be around about a 6/1 shot for the race and maybe bigger if punters feel the draw diminishes his chances but on his day he certainly looks to have some real solid form and he could well land a blow for the Irish.

Meanwhile, there is also graded jump racing this weekend with the Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase the centrepiece at Aintree tomorrow in which top weight Module will be extremely hard to beat if managing to repeat his run last year behind Sire De Grugy. He is given a tentative vote to concede 6lbs to Uxizandre, a Grade One winning novice for Alan King last season.