FOR BATTLE
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YORK’S Ebor meeting, regarded as the Royal Ascot of the North, which kicks off on Wednesday, justifies that lofty billing.
The presence of Enable, the best three-year-old in Europe who is favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is a treat for racegoers and she appears to have a simple task of adding to her English and Irish Oaks in Thursday’s Yorkshire version.
However, the filly is no betting proposition at 1-3, but there is value in the other headline acts.
Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes has brought together a star-studded cast – round three of the showdown between Churchill and Barney Roy.
Richard Hannon, the trainer of Barney Roy, cannot wait and struggles to contain his excitement. “Barney’s fine. James Doyle came down and rode him on Thursday and we will just keep him ticking over,” said Hannon.
“Yes, it’s round three with Churchill (the score is one-all) but there’s a lot of good horses running besides Churchill. It’s by no means a two-horse race, a very open race.
Record
“We’re very happy with our lad, there’s been a bit of time since he last ran in the Eclipse (second to Ulysses), but he’s in good order.”
Hannon is not concerned about what ground York throws up.
“He’s won on soft ground. It was a record time when he won at Royal Ascot (St James’s Palace Stakes when Churchill was fourth). Summer ground will be fine. I’m looking forward to it.”
Aidan O’Brien, the trainer of Churchill who beat Barney Roy in the 2,000 Guineas, is also upbeat about his chances.
“We’re happy with him and if he’s going to go there (a mile and a quarter) then we’d thought we’d better try that now,” said O’Brien “We’ve always thought it would be well within his compass.”
Roger Charlton, trainer of Decorated Knight who must offer each-way value in the Juddmonte at 16-1, said: “The Eclipse was very rough as we had no run in the race.
“He’s in good form, we have a shout. Listen, the Barney Roys, Churchills and Ulysses are bit more headline but as long as the ground is not slow, we will be there.”
A repeat of Decorated Knight’s penultimate outing when runnerup to Highland Reel at Royal Ascot makes him a serious player.
“Atty Persse runs in the Voltigeur,” added Charlton. “But it will be hard to beat Cracksman.”
Jim Crowley believes he has a great chance of taking the two feature races, Ulysses in the Juddmonte and Battaash in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.
“Battaash did look a bit special at Goodwood (won the King George Stakes) and I was impressed with him,” said Crowley. “I think the track should suit him.
Belief
“I’m looking forward to taking on Lady Aurelia. I did not know much about him before Goodwood. He broke the track record at Sandown when I didn’t ride him.”
Charlie Hills, trainer of Battaash, shares Crowley’s belief and said: “We were obviously delighted with his performance at Goodwood.
“It’s not going to be easy at York – Lady Aurelia is obviously very good but there are plenty of other top sprinters in there too.”
Crowley is also excited about partnering Ulysses in the Juddmonte.
“He ran a hell of a race on ground he did not really like at Ascot, so obviously back to quick ground, hopefully, and 10 furlongs should be more to his strengths.” Clive Cox, who has trained some of the fastest speedballs in the land, makes a convincing case for Profitable, a 16-1 chance for the Nunthorpe.
“He’s in great form,” said Cox about the fiveyear-old who has been second to both Lady Aurelia and Battaash. “He’s 4lb better off than he was with Lady Aurelia at Ascot and he’s a Listed winner at York.”