CHURCHILL PRIMED FOR DEWHURST
TRAINER Aidan O’Brien is well represented in Saturday’s Group One Dewhurst at Newmarket with six of the 14 remaining juveniles at the latest confirmation stage.
Next year’s 2,000 Guineas and Derby favourite, Churchill, heads his sextet and is a warm order to add to his easy National Stakes at the Curragh. O’Brien could also run the classy Capri, Intelligence Cross, Lancaster Bomber, Pennsylvania or Finn McCool. Charlie Appleby has the option of running Blue Point or Bay Of Poets but Andrew Balding’s unbeaten South Seas may be the one to give the Irish a run for their money. William Haggas admits Champagne Stakes winner Rivet will have to step up again if he is to strike gold. “He’s a good mover and dry ground will suit him well,” said Haggas. “I’ve had some out of this mare before but this is the most precocious by some way.
“He did show me more speed than the other juveniles in the yard and that’s why he’s got entries in nice races.
“I thought the win last time was laboured, but I think the ground was a bit loose for him and I also think the second was quite useful.”
Also on Newmarket’s classy Saturday card is the Betfred Cesarewitch and ante-post favourite St Michel is closer to making the cut after the five-day confirmation stage.
However, Sir Mark Prescott’s three-yearold still needs four more horses to come out at Thursday’s final declaration stage to get into the maximum field of 34.
The first two from 12 months ago, Grumeti and Oriental Fox, may try again, and also in the mix are Jennies Jewel and Renneti, who was fourth last year for Willie Mullins.