BOLGER ON TARGET WITH DAWN APPROACH @ascotinsider

The QIPCO 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner, Dawn Approach, was today reported in top form by his trainer, Jim Bolger, as he gears up for Britain’s richest raceday, the £3.4m QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot this Saturday. Europe’s champion juvenile colt in 2012, when he was unbeaten in six starts, has recovered from sickness which followed his disappointing run in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in August. On that occasion he finished eight lengths behind Moonlight Cloud and Olympic Glory, with the latter seemingly sure to take him on again on Saturday. "Dawn Approach is very well and we are very happy with him,” said Bolger this morning, as he prepares his stable star for Europe’s richest mile race, the £1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, for which he is the ante-post favourite. "I am hopeful that he will be able to cope with the softer ground but we won’t be sure until after the race.” He has encountered yielding ground in Ireland and good-to-soft in the UK, but never softer than that, though the straight course at Ascot does drain particularly well. The going is currently good-to-soft on the straight course with a dry day forecast today. He could yet have his fourth encounter with Toronado, which Dawn Approach leads 2-1, though that will depend on how much rain falls between now and Saturday with Toronado appreciating good or faster ground. Looking to his runner in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, the Irish Derby winner, Trading Leather, Bolger said: "Trading Leather is very well but we are very concerned about the ground with him.” French star Cirrus des Aigles is a strong favourite as he bids to win his second QIPCO Champion Stakes with Godolphin’s Farhh likely to be his biggest market rival. The Queen’s Estimate heads the market for race one on the card, the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, while Maarek is looking for back-to-back wins in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint. Investec Oaks winner, Talent, heads the market in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares. Off the track a unique Sir Henry Cecil exhibition will be open to all, as will a display of some of the world’s biggest sporting trophies. An outstanding portrait of Frankel will also be unveiled by artist Chris Levine. Tickets are available in the Premier Enclosure (£55) and Grandstand (£30), with children under 18 admitted free if accompanied by an adult. To book visit www.ascot.co.uk or call 0844 346 3000. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Nick Smith, Ascot, 07771 791449 Nick Attenborough, Great British Racing, 07714 146528