RIVALS IN BEST OF ORDER
ORDER OF ST GEORGE could clash again with his Royal Ascot conqueror Big Orange in the Qatar Goodwood Cup.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Irish Thoroughbred was a red-hot favourite to claim back-to-back runnings of the Gold Cup in Berkshire on Thursday, but came off second-best after a pulsating battle with Michael Bell’s Big Orange.
Bell immediately confirmed his star stayer would bid for a third successive victory in the Goodwood Cup on August 1 and O’Brien will consider sending his charge for a rematch.
The Ballydoyle handler said: “Order Of St George seems fine and we’ll see how he is in the next week to 10 days.
“He does have the option of going to Goodwood, but we will just see how he is. It was a tough finish in the Gold Cup but they are all tough finishes at Ascot.”
● Robin Of Navan could get another shot at Group One glory in next Sunday’s Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Harry Dunlop’s stable star struck at the highest level in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud as a juvenile a couple of years ago and has run several fine races in defeat since.
He secured his first victory since in the Group Three La Coupe at Chantilly earlier this month and Dunlop is eager to return to France next weekend.
He said: “He’s come out of his last race well and it was great to see him break the track record at Chantilly. We will go and have a look at the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
“It’s quite a step up in class and he’ll be stepping up to a mile and a half, but Cristian Demuro felt that he would get that.
“Hopefully it will be slightly weaker than some Group Ones. Some of the big guns ran at Ascot, so it might be a bit easier, but there are still some smart French horses in the race.
“He’s amazing and he’s one of those horses that changed my life. I’m very lucky to have him.”