View from connections ahead of Saturday's TV racing
Get the thoughts of the trainers and the Man On The Spot verdict for Saturday's feature races at Newmarket, York and Ascot.
1305 Newmarket - Bet365 Superlative Stakes
What the trainers say:
Charlie Appleby - Quorto: "I was very pleased with his debut at Newmarket and stepping up in trip to seven furlongs, I hope will see further improvement From what we've seen at home, we are definitely going the right way and I feel as though he is going to be very competitive."
John Gosden - Daafr: "He won the other day at Newcastle. He was a little green at Newbury first time out, but he ran well there. This is a lovely race. I could have gone for a novice with a penalty, but sometimes you have to be bold. The step up to seven furlongs will help him. Whether he is good enough, we will find out, but I'm happy with the way he is training."
Man On The Spot verdict:
QUORTO made a striking impression when eased down to win here on his debut and he could well prove to be the classiest of these. He looks the best bet ahead of Cape Of Good Hope, who won at the third time of asking and could come on again here. Certain Lad can’t be discounted, although he has already disappointed at Group level, while Daafr doesn’t quite look up to this class. Blown By Wind looks a little exposed, but Neverland Rock could be open to any amount of improvement and is an interesting each-way prospect.
1320 Ascot - Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile
What the trainers say:
Andrew Balding - Beat The Bank: "It was a much better run from Beat The Bank in the Queen Anne. He just couldn't get out in time. He was only beaten just over a length and a half and didn't have a hard race. I think he had legitimate excuses for his last couple of runs. He is in good form and if he gets a clear run at Ascot, I would hope he will be in the mix."
Martyn Meade - Eminent: "We'll drop him in trip and class slightly. He had good form over a mile as a three-year-old and hopefully it will be a confidence run for him. Hopefully he has a nice time and comes back to his old form, which he hasn't shown in his first couple of runs this season."
Jane Chapple-Hyam - Circus Couture: "He's got good form at Ascot, although this will be his first time round the bend. His other two races have been on the straight track, but I can't see why he won't handle it. He's in good order."
David Simcock - Arod: "He ran well under a penalty at York to be beaten a neck three weeks ago. I'm looking forward to running him. It's probably the last chance for the older horses to take each other on before the three-year-olds start coming through."
Silvestre de Sousa - Trais Flours: "It will be my first time riding the horse, but Mr Fabre is coming across so you always think it's a good ride. I'm just pleased he's given me the call. He has good form, Mr Fabre just wouldn't bring him over for a day out."
Man On The Spot verdict:
Several took part in last month’s Group 1 Queen Anne over track and trip when Lord Glitters went close with Century Dream and BEAT THE BANK in close attendance. Progressive last year with a Group 2 success at Newmarket his best effort, Andrew Balding’s charge failed to get a clear run last time and is fancied to turn the tables in this. Suedois was well beaten in the same race and collateral form from the Queen Anne gives Andre Fabre’s Trais Fluors something to find. Eminent drops back to a mile after a couple of poor efforts this year while Arod has been much travelled since winning this in 2015 and faces a tougher task than when landing a Listed race at Windsor in May.
1415 Newmarket - Darley July Cup
What the trainers say:
William Buick - Blue Point: "He seems in good order. He is back up to six now, which he has already won over, so that is not going to be an issue. The fast ground will suit him,/ Although it is a typical July Cup in that is very competitive and there are some top class-sprinters in there, we are very happy with him.
"He was very effective over five last time and beat some really good five-furlong specialists in the King's Stand, but I think the best part of the race was his last furlong so that would mean six is up his street. There are no concerns over the trip. He is a horse who has always deserved to win a Group One, as he has been knocking at the door, so it was nice to get one with him. I'm happy with the draw in stall 10."
John Gosden - Dreamfield: "He is in good order, but it is a big jump from a Wokingham, where he got caught late, to a July Cup. He is in good form, it is here at home (Newmarket) and the track in in good condition so we are going for it."
"He did everything fine in his gallop here and I've been very pleased with the horse, but this is a whole different level and I'm very aware of that. He ended up coming across in the Wokingham, but I did warn everyone he was a silly price for that race and that proved to be correct. He is a horse that has had very little racing. If we don't belong at this level we can drop him back to Group Three level."
Angus Gold - Eqtidaar: "He's got to go up another notch now. We're still learning about the horse. It will be interesting to see how he gets on against the best of them. Everybody else was surprised by him at Ascot. We weren't particularly surprised, in that his work has always been very good at home.
"Sir Michael was happy with his work leading up to Ascot. We weren't saying he was going to win well, but it was great to see him come good and now we have to step up another gear. Jim (Crowley) was very adamant the horse would improve with his racing. He's pretty lightly-raced and still learning the job. He seems to have a good attitude. We don't know about the ground - he does bend his knee a little bit. I think he'll handle it. They've done a fantastic job watering."
Ben Hayes - Redkirk Warrior: "We were very disappointed at Ascot and we thought on the day he might have had something wrong with him as he ran like he bled. But we checked him when we got home and the next morning he was absolutely fine and there were no real excuses for the poor run.
"There was a bit of a commotion with Harry Angel at the start. Our horse missed the start and Frankie (Dettori) had nothing with him. He never got chance to settle. If he runs anywhere near his best he'll be in the finish for sure."
Kevin Ryan - Brando: "I have been training Brando especially for the July Cup and he is in great form. I don't know what it is about Newmarket but he seems to love the place, he must like running downhill. He is a big, heavy-topped horse, yet is very well balanced and seems to relish running down into the dip - he wasn't beaten very far in this race last year.
"It was a difficult decision to skip Royal Ascot, but I wanted him to run in they July Cup and then defend his Prix Maurice de Gheest title and I didn't think it would be fair on him to go to Ascot as well. You can't run in all these championship races."
Henry Candy - Limato: "He is in very good form but Blue Point will take an awful lot of beating. Limato has not been any different at home than he was this time last year, though that has not been reflected in his two starts this season. He ran much too free in the Queen Anne last time - that's why we are dropping him back to sprinting. He does seem to like Newmarket, though I can't put my finger on why, and if he were to become to the first horse to reclaim the July Cup title it would be very welcome."
Man On The Spot verdict:
BLUE POINT (nap) managed the performance of his career in the King’s Stand last time out and although he now steps up in trip, there is every indication that this race will suit. Redkirk Warrior certainly has the credentials for this but has questions to answer after Royal Ascot, so US Navy Flag, who will be suited by the strong pace at this trip, may be the biggest threat to the likely favourite. Eqtidaar is capable of more, though will need to step up significantly to feature here, and the consistent Sands Of Mali looks a better prospect to make the frame. Limato may appreciate the trip but has looked out of sorts, and Sioux Nation is best watched after running poorly in the Commonwealth Cup.
1540 York - John Smith's Cup
What the trainers say:
David Elsworth - Dash Of Spice: "He is at a progressive stage of his career - he's improved the last couple of runs," said Elsworth. "This is a drop back in trip of course. It was a mile and a half at Epsom and Ascot. But he has got plenty of ability to win over a mile and a quarter, of course he has. Mr Smith is an ambitious, speculative man, despite his modesty, and he has entered him in the Juddmonte International. Even though the horse has a lump of weight to carry, this would give us an indication whether or not he's chasing rainbows."
David Elsworth - Master The World: "He is always a danger. He's bound for Goodwood after York where he'll contest the mile race (Unibet Golden Mile) which he's won and been second in. He'll probably go and have another crack at that, but this race, while sort of a prep, he's not going in there as a forlorn hope. He's a course winner and sluiced up with Kieren (Fallon) one day there, I remember."
Roger Varian - Appeared: "He ran a blinder to finish fourth in the Duke of Edinburgh and has come out of the race in fine form. He loves fast ground and won well at York a couple of seasons ago. His strong travelling style of running suggests he is worth a try at this shorter trip, particularly as it is a course where they often get racing a long way from home.
"Although he doesn't look to have masses in hand (from the handicapper), he remains lightly-raced for his age and the 5lb pull with Dash Of Spice ought to bring them closer together."
David Menuisier - Thundering Blue: "The ground should be fairly similar to the ground he ran on at the Dante meeting, so we would be hopeful. He came out of Ascot absolutely fine because when Frankie (Dettori) saw that the horse was beaten, he wasn't overly hard on him. He kind of looked after him in the last furlong. So he has actually come out of Ascot really well and is in super form. In my opinion, he is in as good a form as he was before the Dante meeting."
Jim Goldie - Euchen Glen and Sir Chauvelin: "Euchan Glen has got a good draw (three). We'll probably not drop in as deep as we did last time. We'll just make a judgement on the day. He seems to be in very good form. He won and then nearly won in the last stride at Newcastle. A mile and two is a bit of a change in trip, but he has won over the distance and he's in good order.
"Sir Chauvelin would have got close to catching the favourite (Dash Of Spice) at Ascot over a mile and four with a better run. If they'd have gone a stronger pace in the Zetland Gold Cup he'd have gone closer there. A mile and two could be sharp for him, too, but if they go a good gallop he'll be finishing well."
Man On The Spot verdict:
Dash Of Spice landed a double over 1m4f last month including a valuable handicap at Ascot. He’s penalised for that and fourth-placed Appeared may well reverse running with that seasonal debut under his belt. Thundering Blue finished further behind at Ascot but won over course and distance earlier while Brorocco and Mordin have been thereabouts lately but are upped in class. Afaak won here before finishing runner-up over a mile in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot with What's The Story and Kynren behind. He’ll likely stay the distance but an outside draw is not ideal and a chance is taken on ACROSS DUBAI. Progressive last year and gelded at the end of the season, he had a couple of outings last month and went close over 1m2f on the all-weather on his latest start. A bold bid is expected from the Haggas charge racing of the same mark today.
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