Aidan O’Brien could hold the key to Thursday’s Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes, with both Causeway and Italy expected to play major roles should they turn up.

The Group 3 prize over 2400m is often contested by horses who have perhaps come up slightly short in their respective Derby’s but Causeway will head to Ascot following a similar route, with the former out to continue his progressive profile having landed both the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1600m) and Group 3 Gallinule Stakes (2000m) after making a successful reappearance in handicap company.

The son of Wootton Bassett, who is now four from five in his short career to date, would be stepping up to 2400m for the first time if contesting the Hampton Court.

Speaking in a recent stable tour, Aidan O’Brien said: “He’s a horse that we always planned to step up in trip, and he’ll give himself a great chance to stay those sort of trips with the relaxed racing character that he has.”

Stablemate Italy showed some high-class form as a juvenile, including when runner-up in both the Group 2 Superlative Stakes (1400m) and Group 2 Acomb Stakes (1400m) and third in the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (1400m).

He will follow a slightly different path in the race having finished a staying on fourth behind subsequent Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes (2000m) at Leopardstown on his return.

O’Brien, who won the race with Trinity College twelve months ago, said: “He was a very good two-year-old and we think he's come forward for his first run back at Leopardstown.”

Fifth in the Group 2 Dante Stakes (2100m) at York, Morshidi could lead the home challenge for William Haggas, while John and Thady Gosden’s Group 3 Craven Stakes (1600m) winner Oxagon will look to put a lesser effort in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) behind him now that he steps up further in trip.

Andrew Balding’s Generic was no match for subsequent Prix du Jockey Club winner Constitution River in the Listed Dee Stakes (2100m) at Chester but still has plenty of upsides, as does Charlie Appleby’s unexposed Maho Bay.

Photo: Healy Racing