Spare a thought for the seven trainers saddling the opposition to Aidan O’Brien in tomorrow’s Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, part of Champions Day at Newmarket.

If the track dries O’Brien will run the Phoenix and National Stakes winner George Washington, current favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas. If the track comes up soft, which appears likely after a heavy downpour on Wednesday, then the trainer will run Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Horatio Nelson, who just happens to occupy the top line of betting for next year’s Derby.

If the opposition can take something into the race though, it’s the stats. Since 1988 only one horse has managed to win the National Stakes in Ireland and then go on to win the Dewhurst (Dashing Blade in 1989). Other National Stakes winners to try but came up short were Fatherland (fifth to Zafonic in 1992), Danehill Dancer (second to Alhaarth in 1995) and Desert King (sixth to In Command in 1996).

Only two horses in that time have attempted the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) – Dewhurst double: Rock Of Gibraltar completed the task in 2001 while Oratorio missed out last year when beaten by Shamardal at Newmarket.

Still, many consider statistics in horse racing the same as an oral contract i.e. not worth the paper they are written on (!).

Oratorio will start favourite in the other Group 1 on the programme, the Champion Stakes.