Illinois can prove a cut above rivals

ILLINOIS can make his class tell as he lines up in the Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes at Chester today.

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The four-year-old hails from the family of Arc winner Danedream and he certainly showed a fair amount of ability during his Classic campaign without actually hitting the target on the biggest days.

His potential was obvious, having placed at Group One level as a juvenile, but early reverses in two Derby trials saw him bypass Epsom and instead tackle the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, where he made an effortless step up to 14 furlongs.

Moved back for a crack at the Grand Prix de Paris, he was edged out by Sosie before again having to give best to stablemate Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur and then Jan Brueghel in the St Leger, beaten just a neck on both occasions.