Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot (due off at 3.35) looks at the mercy of Frankel and Sir Henry Cecil's runner is no bigger than 4/11 to extend his unbeaten run to nine.

The world's best miler has done everything asked of him in a stellar season, with his victory in the 2000 Guineas one of the most visually impressive performances I have ever seen. Allowed to run loose and lead by jockey Tom Queally, he maintained a devastating gallop all the way to the line, beating the re-opposing Dubawi Gold by six lengths. Queally was perhaps not at his best tactically at Royal Ascot, where Frankel came closest to defeat, having just three-quarters of a length to spare over Zoffany at the finish of the St James's Palace Stakes, but a five-length drubbing of last season's champion miler Canford Cliffs next time out in the Sussex Stakes had us all drooling again and anything but a Frankel win on the inaugural Champions Day would be an anti-climax.

This is hardly a formality, though, as he's flesh and blood after all and, god forbid, things can go wrong. He's also facing several smart rivals, including the filly Immortal Verse, who was an impressive winner of the Coronation Stakes over course and distance and is in receipt of a 3lb sex allowance, and Excelebration, who was a close third to Frankel at the royal meeting and has since won at Newbury and Longchamp. There's also a worrying stat for the favourite to overcome. Since 1988, 15 winners of the 2000 Guineas have raced from September onwards and their collective tally of 24 races has yielded just the nine winners. Clearly, it can't be taken as a given that Frankel, who has been on the go since April, will hold his form, although an upbeat weekend bulletin from his trainer suggests he is better than ever.

The relatively small field increases the chance that the race will turn into a slowly-run tactical affair, but Cecil looks to have that covered by running Frankel's regular lead horse Bullet Train, who will take up pacemaker duties if needed. So, with no concerns over the likely fast ground, it really does all point to Frankel making it nine from nine and bookmakers agree as they are betting on the margin of victory, with Ladbrokes going 13/8 that he wins by three and a half lengths or more (it's the same price he wins by less than that margin. I'm not expecting a procession so I'd be inclined to go 'under' if forced into having a bet, while EXCELEBRATION looks the one to be on at 7/4 in Ladbrokes' 'without Frankel' market as I have reservations about Immortal Verse handling the ground.

However, this is not really a race to bet on but one to watch and savour as horses like Frankel don't come along every day.

Recommended Bet (if you must):

Excelebration 'without Frankel' 3pts @ 7/4 Ladbrokes