It all points to brilliant Blue
CHARLIE APPLEBY’S BLUE POINT (2.15) clocked a very fast time when landing the King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs at Royal Ascot last month, so he is the one to beat in the Group One Darley July Cup run over six furlongs at Newmarket.
The four-year-old has also won five times over this trip, so don’t worry about the step back up in distance.
With 20 horses hurtling up the course in the
Bet365 Bunbury Cup Handicap over seven furlongs, the draw will play a big part, as it did last year when the first four home were housed in stalls 19, 20, 15 and 12. VON BLUCHER (1.40) was sixth racing off a mark of
99, so the five-year-old must have a great each-way chance – hunt down a bookie laying
1-2-3-4-5 places – bursting out of stall 19, and now off a rating of 95
You may think backing an 11-year-old to land the John Smith’s City Walls Stakes at York, is the first sign of insanity, but TAKE COVER (1.55) captured last year’s race, and after a couple of prep runs, the old boy will be cherry-ripe for his main target of the summer.
David Griffiths’ speedster made all in last year’s burn-up over the minimum trip, and it’s very hard to reel in front-runners on this flat, fast, track. David Allan rode the veteran 12 months ago, so having him back in the plate for the first time this season is a bonus.
In the Group Three John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes, DAL HARRAILD (2.35) can regain the winning thread on his favoured fast surface. William Haggas’ runner was last sighted in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan, Dubai, in March, but the desert grass was not to his liking. Before that, he had thrashed a 100-rated horse by ten lengths at Chelmsford City over two miles when he made all.
The five-year-old showed his liking for the Knavesmire when landing a Listed affair over course and distance in May last year, so the 113-rated animal has a lot going for him. Andrea Atzeni takes the reins on him for the first time, which can only aid his cause, so it will come as no surprise if the top-class jockey dictates things from
the front.