No soft option for Azamour

Azamour will have to overcome 10 rivals and a growing threat of soft ground in order to land Saturday's Champion Stakes.

John Oxx was hoping for fast conditions ahead of the Champions Day showpiece, but persistent rain in Newmarket today turned the ground good to soft.

Frankie Dettori relies on the King George winner Doyen rather than Refuse To Bend as he bids to win the Champion Stakes for the first time, while Mark Johnston saddles both Lucky Story and Mister Monet.

Darryll Holland rides Lucky Story and feels a reproduction of the form he showed to chase home Rakti in the QEII at Ascot will take him very close. He said: "The Ascot form is there to see and I think the extra two furlongs at HQ will suit my horse ideally.

Johnston's star juvenile Shamardal will also face 10 rivals when he bids to enhance his Classic credentials in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes. The unbeaten Giant's Causeway colt faces stern opposition from Etlaala, who won the Champagne Stakes.