The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Caradoc can get back on track
Return to York can pay off for Walker’s charge
CARADOC
can feel the benefit of his recent return as he contests the John Smith’s Cup at York.
The five-year-old was a consistency for Ed Walker model of last term, finishing no worse than fifth in seven starts, which also encompassed two wins, including in a similarly competitive heat to this.
A shot at Listed company failed to pay off at the end of his campaign, but Caradoc was still well fancied to make a glorious return at Epsom earlier this month.
Walker had warned his charge might not be at his peak, and so it proved as Caradoc could not quite find the necessary speed after being given plenty to do on Derby day.
He made up an eye-catching amount of ground in the final furlong to be beaten just over four lengths in sixth and it may be that returning to a more conventional track should also be in his favour.
makes a swift reappearance in the John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes after finishing second at Newmarket last week.
Mark Johnston’s charge had disappointed in his first couple of starts this term, but took a leap forward as he found only Dame Malliot too good in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes.
COMMUNIQUE
The five-year-old loves to do it the hard way from the front and once Dame Malliot passed him at Newmarket, it looked as though he might drop away.
However, Communique has determination in spades and poked his head in front again in the final furlong, only for Dame Malliot to pull put a bit more and go on to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Communique was conceding 3lb to the winner that day, but the conditions of this Group Three affair give him a handy advantage on the official ratings.