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Royal Champion is expected to make his debut for trainer Karl Burke in Tuesday’s 1m2f Listed Quebec Stakes at Lingfield, having been campaigned in Australia over the last few months.

Originally handled by Roger Varian between the ages of two and five, the gelding took his first Listed contest in September 2022 in the Doonside Cup at Ayr before landing the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot in the following summer. A second in the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes was enough to encourage connections to try the now six-year-old in Australia and he moved to Anthony & Sam Freedman in March 2024.

Raced three times in Australia, the gelding achieved a second in the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley and switched to the care of Karl Burke for his return to the UK.

Burke said: "Royal Champion has been with us for five or six weeks and is a lovely horse to have in the yard.

"He seems to have settled in really well. Looking at his record, he has run well fresh, so I would be hoping for a bold showing.

"I need to have a discussion with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid about future plans, but after this we may look at the Winter Derby. Even though it's over a furlong further, it could be a nice target if he takes to the all-weather."

Amongst Royal Champion's competition, Auld Toon Loon will make the step up in class after some commendable efforts in handicap company, including a fourth in the November Handicap.

Trainer Tom Dascombe said: "Auld Toon Loon has thrived mentally since he has joined us, although the manner of his win at Bath was a surprise.

"He backed that up with a good run in the November Handicap – and I think if we could ride the race again, he would have gone even closer.

"His owners Empire State Racing also have his dam Snowtime and half-brother Snow Master, so any sort of black type would be beneficial.

"Lingfield offers a different test to his two starts for us, but I am pretty confident that he is capable of getting black type, whether it is this week or in the future."