Ratings Update: Roly Poly lands another Group 1 for O'Brien

The Sun Chariot Stakes was the feature race at Newmarket on Saturday, and with Winter having moved up in trip for the second half of the year, Roly Poly (up 3 lb to 120) managed to record her third win at the highest level this season. She may not have the wow factor of some multiple Group 1 winners, but that's less reflective in her rating after this performance, and what's for certain is that she's tremendously tough and genuine. Persuasive (remains on 119) was behind Roly Poly in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville and ahead of her at Leopardstown last time, but was unable to uphold that form despite being heavily backed, running well but beaten on merit having always had Roly Poly in her sights. Persuasive placed on three of her four starts in Group 1s, and will reportedly be retired to stud now.

Ascot staged a solid six-race card that kicked off with a well-up-to-scratch Group 3 sprint, which was dominated from start to finish by Ron Harris’ front-running Just Glamorous (changed from ? to 113). He returned to something like his best after a dismal season (reportedly had a breathing problem prior to his last run) to beat Sir Robert Cheval (up 1 lb to 112) by three quarters of a length. Robert Cowell’s gelding deserves extra credit for doing best of those coming off the pace and should continue to give a good account in similar events. The heavily-backed favourite Waady (down 2 lb to 113) ran no more than respectably, not helping himself by getting stewed up beforehand and not fully applying himself once racing.

The Cumberland Lodge Stakes looked there for the taking for French raider Waldgeist (remains on 121), who arrived with by far the best form in the book, and perhaps can be marked down as an unlucky loser, his rider somewhat underestimating the task of catching Danehill Kodiac (up 2 lb to 116) from his position. Waldgeist may end the season without a win, which would do him a disservice, but he'll no doubt improve his CV as a four-year-old, plenty about him to think he'll come back bigger and better.

In theory, Blue Point (remains on 124) didn’t have quite the chance his odds suggested under a penalty in the Bengough Stakes, but he had been competing at a higher level for most of the season and he proved a cut above his rivals. He was able to dictate with no Harry Angel in the field, and was seen to good advantage on the front end, his turn of foot around two furlongs out the key factor. He'll need a different sort of ride, in all likelihood, if he takes on Harry Angel again in the Champions Sprint, but he's likely to have leading claims of making the first three at least. The runner-up Projection (up 2 lb to 118) also emerged with plenty of credit, taking the rise in class in his stride, and ran perfectly well given the position he was asked to come from. There is perhaps yet more to still be revealed with him, and he looks well up to making his mark in group company next season.

A valuable and competitive handicap, the Challenge Cup was again well attended and saw the progressive Accidental Agent (120 from 112p) prevail, more than confirming the huge improvement he showed in listed company the time before. He's going to be a pattern performer next year, but he has an entry in the Balmoral Handicap, and might well take his chance under a penalty. Lord Glitters (116p from 109p) was purchased for €270,000 in July, and shaped extremely well on debut for David O’Meara, beaten half a length into second. He would have likely given the winner even more to do if his effort had begun sooner, and he’ll look among the pick of the weights if taking his chance in the Balmoral on Saturday week.

One Master (107p from 94p) justified William Haggas’ decision to run her in the seven-furlong listed October Stakes instead of a handicap off an official mark of 75, overcoming the huge rise in class to win with a bit in hand. She remains open to improvement going forward and would likely be competitive in even higher grades if kept in training. Eternally (down 2 lb to 107) was a disappointing favourite on the day, only able to finish third, but was perhaps asked to do too much too soon.

A fairly quiet weekend in terms of pattern races in Ireland, but the Irish Cesarewitch took centre stage at Navan on Sunday. The Harry Rogers-trained winner Lord Erskine (up 8 lb to 93) is hard to crab given his progressive nature, running a clear career best to land a hat-trick in a much deeper race than those he had been contesting, but the race wasn't entirely satisfactory, with the steady nature of the gallop meaning many from the back struggled to get involved. Runner-up Snow Falcon (up 4 lb to 109) got back on the up despite shaping as though he’d have been better served with the emphasis placed more on stamina and he would be of plenty of interest in turning up in the British version of the race on Saturday.

Over at Limerick there was an eventful renewal of the valuable Munster National Handicap, more than half the field carrying the familiar silks of either J.P. McManus or Gigginstown House Stud, but it was Willie Mullins’ sole representative Total Recall (153p from 137+) who landed the spoils in most impressive fashion. On his first start since leaving Sandra Hughes, he landed a hefty gamble, and though the handicapper will surely hit him hard given the ease of this victory, he'll remain of interest in top-end handicaps, likely to progress further if anything.