STRADIVARIUS has become a bit of a forgotten horse in the William Hill St Leger but can make his presence firmly felt by lifting the final British Classic of the year.

John Gosden's charge has been on a stellar trajectory this year, winning off a mark of 78 at Beverley before going on to add a Royal Ascot triumph and Group One honours.

He lines up at Doncaster on a rating of 116, which does give him a bit to find with Irish Derby hero Capri, but it was hard not to have been impressed by his staying credentials as he just edged out Gold Cup hero Big Orange in the Goodwood Cup last time.

Admittedly, he had a chunky pull in the weights that day – but the way Stradivarius picked up from off the pace certainly caught the eye and he clearly has the heart for a fight after outbattling one of the toughest horses in training.

While that victory came over two miles, Stradivarius' previous success in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot shows a mile and six furlongs holds few fears as he picked off the reopposing Count Octave in the final furlong, with possibly a little more in reserve than the neck verdict suggests.

Gosden set his sights on this race some time ago with Stradivarius and, given the Newmarket handler has won three of the last 10 renewals, he obviously knows a Leger candidate when he sees one.

Any drying of the Doncaster ground would be in his favour but nap selection Stradivarius nevertheless makes plenty of appeal under James Doyle.

DREAM TODAY made quite an impression when winning the Convivial Maiden at York last month and he can secure a quick double in the Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes with Oisin Murphy in the saddle.

This is a swift and sizeable step up to Group Two company but Dream Today was all business on his debut, racing prominently before quickening from the front.

He did wander around a little in the finish that day but that was understandable at the first attempt and he must surely be wiser for the experience.

Trainer Mark Johnston clearly thought a bit of him to have handed out some big-race entries in the autumn and, as a full-brother to Al Wukair, it would not be unreasonable to have some lofty ambitions.

ACLAIM hit the crossbar at Group One level in France last time but can finally get his head in front in the Alan Wood Plumbing And Heating Park Stakes.

Martyn Meade had high hopes for the four-year-old following an excellent 2016 campaign which saw him win four times, culminating in a Group Two success at Newmarket last autumn.

He decided to pitch Aclaim into the Lockinge on his return but Ribchester was simply far too good and Meade's charge did not really appear to appreciate a mile.

Aclaim was then far from disgraced in the Diamond Jubilee at Ascot, while he had little room when it really counted in the seven-furlong Lennox Stakes.

He then found Brando just half a length too good in the Prix Maurice de Gheest on his most recent outing, finding six and a half furlongs a bit too sharp against an established sprinter.

Yet Aclaim has clearly found his kind of distance now and he should surely feature in the shake-up as he seems to be running back into form, with jockey Murphy having the chance of a double.

The William Hill Portland Handicap is always a tricky puzzle to solve but STAKE ACCLAIM could be the answer with Robert Winston on board.

Dean Ivory's sprinter shed his maiden tag at this venue a few years ago and is enjoying another good season, taking his career tally to five with victories at Windsor and Ascot.

He was last seen finishing third behind Ice Age in the Windsor Sprint Series Finale and that form looks red hot in light of the winner's subsequent triumph in a valuable handicap in Ireland.

Elsewhere, MY REWARD can claim his second successive Listed win at Chester in the 32Red.com Stand Cup Stakes.

Tim Easterby's charge dominated from the front on the Roodee a fortnight ago and, while he faces a better class of opposition this weekend, he will take some pegging back under the same tactics.