Trainer Archie Watson: Tempus is thriving at the moment

A new flag-bearer for Hambleton Racing after the retirement of Group One-winning sprinter Glen Shiel, the Archie Watson-trained Kingman gelding struck in a valuable handicap at Ascot on King George day before landing Group Three spoils at Salisbury.

And he backed those efforts up in Deauville, winning the Group Three Prix Quincey under a penalty, again in the hands of Hollie Doyle.

Tempus was a 25,000 guineas buy for Hambleton from Juddmonte, and is rapidly proving his worth - so much so that a Group One assignment is on the horizon.

Watson said: "It was great to see Tempus follow up his Group Three win at Salisbury with a dominant display under a penalty in France. Everything went smoothly and Hollie was very impressed with the way he did it.

"He is thriving at the moment and his main aim will be the Queen Elizabeth II on Champions Day, possibly with one run beforehand."

Glen Shiel famously gave Doyle her first top-level victory when triumphant on Champions Day in 2020, and Hambleton's director of racing Simon Turner said: "We've clearly got another smart horse on our hands in Tempus and his owners are living the dream.

"In just 12 months he's progressed from being a cheap horse into a genuine Group performer and I think one or two of his owners are pinching themselves to check they're not dreaming! It's very exciting for us to competing at such a level again."

The five-year-old has been on a steep upward trajectory all season, starting out in handicaps and then winning the Listed Achilles Stakes and the Group Three Coral Charge earlier in the year.

Stepped up to Group Two level in the King George at Goodwood, the chestnut was only narrowly beaten when Khaadem got the better of him by just a neck in a gallant run that encouraged connections to go for the Group One Nunthorpe.

At York the gelding started at 12-1 under Tom Marquand and ran freely in the early stages of the race, leaving him unable to throw down a sufficient challenge in the final few furlongs.

Eventually eighth of 13 runners, Raasel is faring well following the effort and may now take on the Flying Five at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend - another Group One event.

"He's come out of the race really well, he was a bit unlucky as he never got any cover early on," Appleby said.

"He just ran too freely early but he's come out of it great, so it's more than likely we will go for the Flying Five at the Curragh next.

"He just needs to be covered up early on and he didn't get that, but I definitely think he's definitely better than that run."