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14:30 York
Saturday 18 July 2020
All12:1512:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:10
John Smith's Cup Handicap (Heritage)
- 3YO plus | Class 2 | 1m 2f 56y | Good (Good to Firm in places) | 22 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:34 | Winning time: 2m 9.48s
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Top-weight to shoulder but he has won twice over 1m at this course. Third in this contest off an 8lb lower mark last year and had a better preparation then. Something to prove after tame reappearance effort.
Dual C&D winner. 2lb higher than when winning this race last year, but comes into the race after a five-month break. Has never won when fresh, but connections must feel optimistic he can do himself justice making his seasonal debut in this contest.
Finished fifth in this race off a 3lb higher mark, but came into it after winning the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot. Been in quiet form since then but did well to finish seventh in this years renewal of the Hunt Cup on his seasonal comeback.
Never looked like being beaten when winning in exciting fashion by eight-lengths at Newmarket (1m2f; good to firm). Handicapper taking no chances by raising him 9lbs. This is much more competitive but can't be ruled out when in this form.
Progressed from solid comeback run at Newcastle (1m; standard to slow) to win over 1m2f for the first time when doing it nicely at Doncaster (1m2f; good). Unexposed at the trip and in handicaps so could be plenty more to come.
Won off career-high mark when springing somewhat of a surprise (sent off 22-1) at Epsom (1m2f; good) at the start of the month. Stable in red-hot form but 5lb rise demands even more. Place claims at best.
May have needed the run on first run back in the UK for 10 months after a stint in Meydan over the winter. 5lb above last winning mark but if he rediscovers the form he showed when winning at Ayr on final start of last season, he would have claims.
Regained the winning thread in gutsy fashion when prevailing by a head at Doncaster (1m2f; good to firm) to beat Archie Perkins. Up 6lb but is far from exposed and is Frankie Dettori's only ride on the card.
May have encountered the dreaded 'bounce factor' on his second run back from a long layoff when ninth at Haydock (1m4f; soft). Ground may also have been an excuse, but his reappearance effort when third in 'Listed' company reads well.
Produced a pair of solid efforts in defeat over this trip since joining this yard. 5lb better off with Sky Defender after finishing second to that rival at Epsom (1m2f; good) on Derby day. Interesting contender and still fairly lightly raced.
Stays 1m2f and achieved a career-best to make a winning reappearance at Sandown (1m; good) off career-high mark. 7lb higher and in a better race. Sole runner on the card for trainer who won this with Ballet Concerto for the same owners in 2017.
Still 5lb above last winning mark which he beat Great Example off last year. Only sixth on comeback run behind a couple of todays rivals at Epsom (1m2f; good), but made eye-catching headway late on. Entitled to come on from that.
Holds a very likeable profile. Only had four starts in handicaps, and was only just caught by Caradoc at Newbury (1m2f; good to firm) on his final start of 2019. Now makes seasonal reappearance after 301-day absence. Jockey booking catches the eye.
Won in this grade on seasonal reappearance but then ran nowhere near that level when tailed off when dropped down to 1m at this track last week. Major questions to answer now back up to 1m2f off a career-high mark.
Failed to build upon encouraging reappearance effort last time when only beating the one rival to finish 13th of 14 in a competitive Royal Ascot (1m4f; soft) handicap. Ground a possible excuse but needs to bounce back now.
Made an encouraging start to life for this new yard, finishing placed on each of his first two starts. However, he now needs to bounce back from a desperately poor showing in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock (1m4f; soft) when tailed off.
No chance with the well-fancied (11/8f) Desert Icon when finishing eight-length behind that rival in second at Newmarket (1m2f; good to firm) last month. 11lb better off now so has a chance to get closer, but vulnerable for win purposes.
Form has tailed off the last twice finishing well-beaten on each occasion. Back down to his last winning mark as he returns to 1m2f but cannot be fancied given the form he is in at present. Others look much more solid.
0-10 since joining this yard from France and he is on the same mark as when arriving in this country. Has shown bits and pieces of promise, including last time out when not beaten far into fifth in the Hunt Cup. That form boosted by the runner-up.
281-day absence to overcome as well as needing to bounce back from disappointing final start of 2019 when down the field in a similarly competitive event at Newmarket (1m4f; good to soft). Did look to be going the right way in handicaps before that.
Improved for the step up in trip to follow up recent Hamilton success when winning a competitive event at Ripon (1m2f; good) last week in comfortable fashion. Up 5lb and although this is tougher he has place claims.
C&D winner around this time last year. Took a step forward from low-key reappearance run to be beaten just a head by Harrovian at Doncaster (1m2f; good to firm). That rival much more prominent in the betting & he is on the same terms again.
Forecasts
Caradoc (11/2), Solid Stone (11/2), Fifth Position (6/1), Harrovian (15/2), Desert Icon (8/1), Great Example (10/1), Sinjaari (11/1), Dark Jedi (18/1), Afaak (18/1), Good Birthday (18/1), Tinandali (20/1), Pivoine (20/1), Baltic Baron (22/1), Euchen Glen (28/1), Rise Hall (28/1), Sky Defender (28/1), Archie Perkins (33/1), Anythingtoday (50/1), Certain Lad (66/1), What's The Story (66/1), Nicholas T (80/1), Wait Forever (100/1)
A belting renewal of this famous middle-distance handicap. Sir Michael Stoute won the race in 2017 and bids to repeat the feat with Solid Stone who produced a career-best when making a winning return to action last month. He ran right through the line that day, so the step back up to 1m2f should suit. At a big price, Dark Jedi should not be discounted given the form he is currently in, while Desert Icon showed improved form to win in striking fashion when last seen. However, it may be a tip in itself that Frankie Dettori travels to York for one ride aboard HARROVIAN. This gelding showed a good attitude to win at Doncaster recently and can defy the subsequent 6lb rise.
- Harrovian
- Desert Icon
- Solid Stone
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £37,350.002nd: £11,184.003rd: £5,592.004th: £2,796.005th: £1,398.006th: £702.00
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