The final Group 1 two-year-old race of the season takes place on Saturday when the Racing Post Trophy is run at Doncaster (due off 3.00pm).

The betting is dominated by Camelot, who was as big as 9/4 at the five-day stage but has been well-backed subsequently and is now as low as evens with Ladbrokes. That price is based more on reputation and his trainer's record than proven form, however, and he could be a favourite to take on. Already as low as 16/1 for next year's Derby, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Montjeu colt made a visually impressive winning debut at Leopardstown in July, but none of his four rivals that day have won since and collectively they've run 13 times. The runner up All Approved has been beaten six times in total, including in a very winnable maiden auction race.

O'Brien's record in the race is harder to knock, though, and it's a fact that he targets his better two year-olds at it, hitting the target five times and last scoring with St Nicholas Abbey two years ago. That said, he's suffered his fair share of disappointments and just one win in the last eight renewals (18 runners) is only average. Money often talks with the stable's runners and it's significant that his last two winners carried substantial market confidence. Even more significant is the fact that Ladbrokes are shortest on Camelot as the magic sign have long been believed to have a direct line to the Ballydoyle operation.

However, I'm still not prepared to take 5/4 on what I can consider to be a 5/2 shot, especially as a couple of these have achieved more and could be just as good. That certainly applies to John Gosden's Fencing, who was an easy winner of a Listed contest last time and will relish this step up to a mile, although his ability to handle the expected cut in the ground has to be taken on trust. The record of his sire Street Cry, whose progeny seem to prefer fast ground, is not encouraging in that respect and for that reason I'm not a backer at just 10/3 (Ladbrokes).

Encke's (6/1 Ladbrokes) debut second to subsequent Autumn Stakes second Perennial is another strong piece of form and a facile maiden win over this distance at Newmarket on his next start shows he's going the right way. Having been supplemented at a cost of £20,000, the Godolphin-owned runner is respected but preference is for the other supplemented runner ZIP TOP, who really caught the eye when a staying on third behind Crius in the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket last month. That suggests that this extra furlong will suit and his form has been boosted by the fourth Crusade, who went on to win the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, and the fifth Letsgoroundagain, who was a ready winner of a Listed race at Pontefract on Monday.

His trainer Jim Bolger has never had a runner in the Racing Post Trophy, so it's significant that this Sheikh Mohammed-owned runner has been supplemented and the handler only raids these shores when he thinks he can win. In fact his last runner Parish Hall won the Dewhurst at 20/1 from an O'Brien-trained hotpot in Power. Can lightening strike twice? At 10/1 with Ladbrokes - who are top-priced on all the runners on account of their faith in Camelot - it's worth taking the chance.

Recommended Bet:-

Zip Top 1pt each-way @ 10/1 Ladbrokes