This years superstar three year old who is leading the running to become the Cartier Horse Of The Year will run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day.
This has come as a shock to punters as he was supposed to be in the Champions Stakes taking on his stablemate Cracksman over 1 mile 2 furlongs but trainer John Gosden has revealed this will not be happening.
The Grey three time Group 1 winning colt will be looking for his fourth black type success of the season coming off the back of his wins in the Coral Eclipse, Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
The deciding factor for this switch to a shorter distance than what he has run on all season was because of the ground conditions that will be at Ascot on Saturday.
Roaring Lion has run on a sound surface at around 1 mile 2 furlongs for his runs this year but the going in Berkshire will be soft and maybe wetter in places.
After a dry spell last night the clerk of the course has revealed today that the going at the moment is soft,heavy in places on the straight course where the QEII takes place.
With this soft ground being probably the best case scenario for the surface come Saturday, the move to switch the Qatar Racing owned horse to a shorter distance is a no brainer and the punters have been backing him ever since the declaration.
The three year old has never run on a surface that has been slower than good to soft in his career so there is a question mark behind whether he will be at his best, but with the season he has had and the Cartier Horse Of The Year up for grabs, he is sure to put in a strong performance for trainer John Gosden.