Equilateral, running in his first handicap in the UK, defied top weight in the Sky Bet And Symphony Group-sponsored opener at York.
Trained by Charlie Hills, the sprinter is now in the veteran stage as an eight-year-old but is clearly still a force to be reckoned with.
While he had run in handicaps before, they had only been in Meydan, where he won the same event two years running in 2020 and 2021.
Since then he has spent his career dining at the top tables, running in Pattern races with his career-best effort coming behind stablemate Battaash in the 2020 King’s Stand when second.
He had run well earlier in the season to be second in both the Temple and Achilles Stakes at Haydock but was last of 11 at Goodwood behind Highfield Princess last time out.
In a typically helter-skelter affair, York specialist Copper Knight made a bold bid but was swamped close home, with Equilateral and Jamie Spencer beating Alligator Alley by a neck with a head back to Jm Jungle.
Hills said: “He’s a yard favourite, he’s always got his head over the door and the day he does leave will be very sad.
“He loves Dubai, he ran well this year without getting his head in front, hopefully that will give him confidence to go forward and go back into Group class. He loves that fast ground.
“He’s in the Flying Five at the Curragh and that is a definite option. If Khaadem can win a Group One at 80-1 then this fellow can!”
Indian Run announced himself as a youngster on the rise with a stylish display in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York
Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, he was only third on debut at Newbury, but advertised his potential with a clinical win at Ascot next time.
Always travelling strongly on the outside in the hands of Danny Tudhope, he eased to the head of proceedings heading up the Knavesmire straight and the son of Sioux Nation still had plenty up his sleeve at the business end of the contest to repel the challenge of Ballymount Boy as he finished the Group Three contest full of running.
Owned by the Bronte Collection, made up of connections of leading owner Steve Parkin and including England cricket star Jonny Bairstow, the 17-2 scorer could now be set for bigger things and was trimmed to 12-1 from 16s by Paddy Power to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Acomb winner Chaldean and head for Newmarket’s Dewhurst Stakes.
Ben White is back in the Scotland XV to face Georgia at Murrayfield on Saturday – just three weeks after fearing injury might rule him out of the World Cup.
The scrum-half limped off in clear distress in the first half of the home win over France earlier this month and looked exasperated as he made his way up the tunnel with his ankle heavily strapped. He missed the subsequent match away to France and later revealed that he was “really concerned” when the injury first happened.
However, White – Gregor Townsend’s first-choice scrum-half – has now been deemed fit enough to return to the number nine jersey for Scotland’s last warm-up match before heading to France for the World Cup at the start of September.
In a further boost for supporters, Edinburgh wing Duhan van der Merwe, who suffered a minor ankle injury in the last match in Saint-Etienne, is also fit enough to start against Georgia.
Despite Scotland’s first game of the tournament against South Africa being only three weeks away and the 33-man squad having been finalised, head coach Townsend has opted to send out a strong XV.
Ollie Smith, with five caps to his name, is the least experienced player in the team as he stands in for Blair Kinghorn at full-back, but the backline is otherwise arguably as strong as it could possibly be.
In the forward department, Glasgow prop Jamie Bhatti starts along with Edinburgh veteran WP Nel, with Pierre Schoeman rested and Zander Fagerson suspended. Richie Gray is another likely starter at the World Cup who has been given the weekend off, with Sam Skinner taking his place alongside Grant Gilchrist in the second row.
Dave Cherry starts ahead of George Turner and Ewan Ashman at hooker, while the back-row is comprised of captain Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey.
Classic-winning jockey Paul Hanagan has announced he will retire from the saddle after riding at York on Friday.
The 42-year-old enjoyed Epsom glory when steering Taghrooda to victory in the 2014 Oaks, before the duo went on to land the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and finish third to Treve in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Hanagan was the leading apprentice in 2002 and was crowned champion jockey twice – first winning the title in 2010 when he rode 205 winners in a calendar year and successfully defending his crown in 2011, when he partnered 177 winners over the 12 months.
Recent seasons have proved more difficult, suffering a serious fall in February 2020 that resulted in three fractured vertebrae and a prolonged period on the sidelines, eventually returning to action in August that year and steering Majestic Dawn to a popular victory in the Cambridgeshire the following month.
Hanagan has ridden 14 winners so far this year and feels it is the right time to depart the weighing room, with his final ride due to come aboard the Richard Fahey-trained Wootton’Sun.
He said: “As you can imagine it’s quite emotional. It’s difficult, I think any professional sportsperson will tell you, especially doing it as long as I’ve been doing it for.
“There’s a few things involved in making my decision, I had a pretty bad fall about two years ago and I’ve never quite been the same after it, I fractured my back in three places.
“It’s not so much painful riding, but it’s getting to the level of fitness you need to be at to be a professional jockey and I don’t think I was getting to that standard.”
William Haggas’ Relief Rally will be tested over six furlongs in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York after an impressive string of five-furlong performances.
The daughter of Kodiac has been beaten just once in four runs, winning a novice and a conditions race before stepping up to Group Two level in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
There she was beaten just a nose by the American challenger Crimson Advocate in a busy field of 26 runners.
She lost little in defeat and was a winner again when heading to Newbury for the Super Sprint, a race she won by three lengths under regular rider Tom Marquand.
The same jockey will receive the leg-up on the Knavesmire, where Relief Rally steps up to six furlongs for the first time against a group of eight rivals for the Group Two Lowther.
Trainer William Haggas said: “She’ll run a good race. She’s a lovely filly – very fast, very able, goes on any ground.
“She should get the trip – I think she’ll enjoy the trip.”
Relief Rally will face Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda, a Dark Angel filly last seen winning the Alice Keppel at Goodwood by a convincing four lengths.
Prior to that the grey was sixth of 26 in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, where she was the first home in the group on the far side as the race split into three bunches across the track.
“She won well at Goodwood in different ground conditions, we’re looking forward to seeing her over six furlongs and she seems in great form,” said Balding.
“You never quite know until you try, but it’s a nice race for her and the timing is right.
“The draw was a factor there (at Ascot) but it won’t be here, it’s a smaller field.
“Hopefully we’ll get a fair race and fingers crossed she runs well.”
Also well-fancied is Aidan O’Brien’s Cherry Blossom, a No Nay Never filly with form over six furlongs as she won a Curragh maiden over the trip by five lengths earlier in August.
Prior to that she notably made her debut in Listed company, finishing fourth in the Marwell Stakes when beaten only a length and a quarter.
“We started her off in a Listed race and she ran well,” said O’Brien.
“She’d taken a big step forward from that and we’ve always liked her. Any ease in the ground would be an advantage to her.”
Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have a runner in Star Of Mystery, winner of the Listed Empress Stakes and second in the Duchess of Cambridge at Newmarket’s July Cup meeting.
Karl Burke, who was victorious last year with Swingalong, has two chances with Beautiful Diamond and Dorothy Lawrence.
Beautiful Diamond was third in the Queen Mary when racing alone behind the leading duo, prior to which she was a decisive winner of a Nottingham maiden.
Dorothy Lawrence has more racing experience having run four times, including a good course effort when second in the Marygate by half a length in May.
Following that performance she was third at Chantilly and then won for the first time in an Ayr maiden last month.
Running in the same Clipper Logistics silks for Michael Bell will be Queen’s Guard, who comes into the race having won a Yarmouth maiden last time, with Irish trainer Paddy Twomey represented by Airlie Stud Stakes second Gunzburg.
Clive Cox will saddle Symbology, a winner over course and distance on debut before finishing third in the Princess Margaret at Ascot.
It was always expected to be two hard-fought encounters to decide the Men’s and Women’s Singles titles at the 28th edition of the Senior Caribbean Championships, and both lived up to billing, as the Barbados pair of Khamal Cumberbatch and Margot Prow claimed top honours in Cayman Islands on Tuesday.
Cumberbatch and Cameron Stafford of the hosts nation entered the one-week tournament as top seeds in the men’s draw and, so it was no surprise that they locked horns in a keenly contested best-of-five final, which the former won 3-2.
The ding-dong battle which lasted 47 minutes, saw Stafford winning the first game 11-6, before Cumberbatch rallied to win the second 11-3. The Cayman Islands top man again found himself in front winning the third game 11-9, but Cumberbatch asserted authority in the last two games to win 11-9, 11-3.
Predictions were that the women’s showpiece would have been an all-Guyana battle between Nicolette Fernandes and Ashley Khalil, but Prow had other ideas, as she bettered Khalil in the semi-final to set up the gold medal battle with Fernandes.
And the Bajan proved superior to her Guyanese counterpart in the Best-of-five final, registering a 3-1 win. She won the first set 11-7, before Fernandes rallied to take the second 11-9, but Prow, like her compatriot Cumberbatch, showed class at the backend to win the next two games 11-9 and 11-7.
Earlier, Julian Jervis and Stafford, handed Cayman Islands the Men’s Doubles gold medal, as they battled to a come-from-behind 11-7, 11-5 win over the Barbadian pair of Cumberbatch and Shawn Simpson in an entertaining finale. Cumberbatch and Simpson won the first set 7-11.
To get to the finals, both pairs had to endure almost hour-long battles in their respective semi-final encounters, Cumberbatch and Simpson moreso, as they had to come from behind to better the Jamaican pair of Bruce Burrowes and Julian Morrison 11-9, 11-8, after losing the first set 9-11.
While the Cayman duo’s battle against Guyana’s Daniel Ince and Jason-Ray Khalil lasted 48 minutes, they won 2-0 with scores of 11-9, 11-10.
In the Women’s Doubles, Guyana secured gold courtesy of top seeded Ashley Khalil and Ashley De Groot, who justified favouritism with a come-from-behind 11-5, 11-9 win over the second seeded Cayman Islands pair of Jade Pitcarin and Marlene West, who won the opening set 11-4.
Khalil and De Groot had earlier bettered Barbadians Karen Meakins and Margot Prow 11-5, 5-11, 11-5 in a competitive three-set battle lasting just over half-hour, while Pitcarin and West got by the Jamaican duo of Karen Anderson and Mia Todd, 11-9, 11-6.
Jamaica’s Tahjia Lumley and Jessica Davis copped the Mixed Doubles title by virtue of a walkover. The reason for such an outcome remains unclear, as the Jamaicans were expected to face the number two seeded Guyanese pair of Jason-Ray Khalil and Nicolette Fernandes in the showpiece event.
After entering the event as the number five seed, the Jamaicans registered an 11-5, 11-2 win over the Trinidad and Tobago pair of Anthony Allum and Faith Gillezeau, and later scored a two-set 11-5, 11-5 win over top seeded pair of Alex Frazer and Michaela Rensburg of the host nation, on their way to the final.
Meanwhile, Khalil and Fernandes bettered the Barbadian pair of Darien Benn and Jada Smith-Padmore 11-5, 11-8, on their way to the final.
The tournament continues with team action on Wednesday.
Despite missing out on the final, Rhema Otabor of Bahamas, had much to be proud of, as she was the lone Caribbean representative in a stacked women’s javelin event on day five of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.
Otabor, the NCAA champion, entered the championship in good knick, having recently broken the girls’ Under-23 record at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Under-18 and Under-23 championships, but was unable to replicate that form on the day.
The 20-year-old, competing in Pool B of the qualifiers launched the instrument to a best mark of 53.62m, which was well off her personal best of 59.75m. Prior to that, Otabor threw a mere 48.34m and later failed to achieve a mark on her final attempt.
You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.
England play their final match before departing for the World Cup when dangerous Fiji visit Twickenham on Saturday with head coach Steve Borthwick facing challenges on and off the field.
Here, the PA news agency answers some key questions ahead of the tournament in France.
What has happened?Fresh from finishing fourth in the Six Nations after losing three of their five games, England’s malaise has continued into their series of World Cup warm-up fixtures, only now the poor results have been compounded by a disciplinary implosion that saw Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola sent off for dangerous tackles.
What are the repercussions?Both Farrell and Vunipola will miss the crucial opener against main Pool D rivals Argentina on September 9 after they received respective four and three-match bans, Vunipola’s reduced to two upon completion of tackle school. Farrell only becomes available for the Chile and Samoa games, while England’s options at number eight are further limited by Tom Curry’s ankle injury.
Can changes be made to England’s squad?The final 33-man squad does not have to be submitted to World Rugby until August 28, setting Borthwick a Monday deadline for any late adjustments. Two matters must be addressed – does Borthwick remain committed to Farrell despite his absence for the two most important group games and is there enough cover at number eight following Vunipola’s ban?
Surely he will not drop Farrell?Highly unlikely, but the length of the ban has left the player and England in limbo. Borthwick’s decision would have been simplified had Farrell been cleared or suspended for six matches, but as it stands he will start the World Cup with George Ford at fly-half and Courtney Lawes as captain knowing that if the team delivers in their skipper’s absence then there may be no place for him in the starting XV.
What about the back row?Vunipola’s absence is easier to overcome given he will only miss the Argentina showdown but as the squad’s sole specialist number eight and its standout carrier in the forwards – at least historically – the situation is hardly ideal. Lewis Ludlam and Ben Earl are the fit alternatives and are high quality players, but neither are the type of bulldozing power runner every World Cup winning team has fielded in the position. Curry’s recovery from an ankle issue has been slow, but Borthwick will surely give such an influential back row every chance to contribute in France.
Can England beat Argentina?View this post on InstagramAndrew Hudson and Rasheed Dwyer of Jamaica both advanced to the semi-final round of the 200m during the opening session of Day 5 of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.
Hudson, the Jamaican champion, came home in second place in Heat 2 that was won by 100m champion Noah Lyles. The American who is favoured to win the sprint double, cruised through the finish line in an impressive-looking 20.05, barely breaking a sweat in sweltering conditions.
Hudson, meanwhile, who challenged Lyles over the first 150m, visibly backed off to take an automatic qualifying spot in 20.25. Ondřej Macik of the Czech Republic also advanced from the heat after finishing third in 20.40.
Dwyer also ran 20.40 for third place in Heat 5.
Towa Uzawa of Japan surged to the lead late to win the heat in 20.34 with the USA’s Courtney Lindsay close behind in 20.39.
Also through to the semi-final round are medal contenders, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain and Erriyon Knighton of the USA.
Tebogo, the 100m silver medalist, who is expected to challenge Lyles for the gold medal, was in complete command of Heat 3, striding to victory in an easy 20.22 while Knighton won Heat 6 in 20.17 over Canada’s Andre DeGrasse, who ran 20.28.
Hughes, the bronze medallist in the 100m, easily won the opening heat in 19.99, the fastest time heading into the semi-finals with Canada’s Aaron Brown a close second in 20.08.
Brown’s compatriot, Brendon Rodney won Heat 4 in a season’s best 20.14 as did the USA's Kenny Bednarek, who sped to a 20.01 clocking to win the final of the seven heats. Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic crossed in second place in a time of 20.14.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald admits thinking about selecting his six wild cards is starting to give him sleepless nights.
Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm have already secured places in Donald’s side via the European Points list, with Viktor Hovland qualifying on the World Points list.
Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood currently occupy the other two spots on the World Points list, with Robert MacIntyre holding the third and final place on the European Points list with two qualifying events remaining.
MacIntyre and Alexander Bjork will partner Donald in the first two rounds of this week’s Czech Masters, with three of Donald’s vice-captains tasked with assessing the performance of several other contenders.
Nicolas Colsaerts will partner Pablo Larrazabal and Adrien Dumont de Chassart at Albatross Golf Resort, with Edoardo Molinari playing alonsgide Yannik Paul and Rasmus Hojgaard and Francesco Molinari drawn with Nicolai Hojgaard and Ludvig Aberg.
“I’m not sure if it was the jet-lag last night or lots of things building up, but I was up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night,” Donald said.
“Lots of things whirring through my head – who I should be talking to, next steps, all that sort of stuff.
“It’s becoming more and more as the week gets closer. A lot to digest, I’m trying to take it day by day, but it’s an important week. I’m excited to be very close to finalising those 12 guys.”
Next week’s Omega European Masters is the final qualifying event, with Donald naming his wild cards on September 4.
“There are definitely some spots open,” the former world number one added.
“I was looking at the statistics this morning and someone as low as 23rd on the European Points list, if they won this week and next, still has a statistical chance of making that top three on the list.
“All to play for, I’d say, and these guys should be chomping at the bit to show up and have some good weeks. It’s great to see that commitment. It doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Everyone in their right mind should have playing a Ryder Cup as a goal of theirs. People who have played never want to miss one once they’ve been a part of it. Rookies want to understand how special the event is.
“A lot of guys who should be playing are playing this week and I’m excited to see how the week unfolds.”
There were mixed fortunes for the Caribbean men in long jump qualifying, as a Jamaican trio of Wayne Pinnock, Carey McLeod and Tajay Gayle all progressed to the final, while Bahamian LaQuan Nairn missed out on day five of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.
It is the first time ever that Jamaica will have three athletes in the long jump final at a global athletics championships.
It was one and done for Jamaica’s Pinnock and McLeod, while Gayle took his time to get going before hitting a reasonable mark to secure a spot in the final scheduled for Thursday at 12:30pm Jamaica time.
The 22-year-old Pinnock was poetry in motion where execution is concerned, as he was perfect off the board and that propelled him to a big world-leading mark of 8.54m in a positive 1.2 metres per second reading, which left him in shock.
“The first thing was just to execute as coach told me, push off on the first six steps, maintain my transition and then just run through the board which is what I did. But when I saw the distance, I was like ‘wow’, I wasn’t expecting that, but I’ve thought of this moment every night before I go to bed,” Pinnock said after his leap.
McLeod followed suit on his try, as he also cleared the automatic qualifying mark of 8.15m, cutting the sand at 8.19m in a positive 0.5m/s wind, on his first attempt.
Meanwhile, 2019 World Champion Gayle needed two jumps to find his rhythm, cutting the sand at 7.84m and 7.68m, respectively before leaping to 8.12m in a negative 0.7m/s wind, which was good enough to get him into the final.
Cuba’s Alejandro Parada (8.13m), will also line up in the medal event.
You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.
Keely Hodgkinson welcomed another showdown with Athing Mu after the defending 800m world champion showed her hand.
American Mu had kept her rivals guessing over whether she would turn up in Hungary after her coach, Bobby Kersee, last month suggested she may skip the World Championships.
But the 21-year-old, who forced Hodgkinson to settle for silver in Eugene last year, won her heat in one minute 59.59 seconds in Budapest on Wednesday.
Hodgkinson eased into Friday’s semi-finals after winning her heat in one minute 59.53 seconds and is eager to take another shot at Mu.
“Yeah, I saw here in the warm-up. It’s good that she’s here. Hopefully all three of us (Hodgkinson, Mu and Mary Moraa) will make it to the final and it will be a good race,” she said.
“I was just jogging and she passed me and I was like ‘oh, she’s come’ because nobody knew. That’s the first time I knew, I knew she was on the start list. I didn’t know she was here.”
Hodgkinson also had to contend with temperatures over 30 degrees at 10am in Hungary.
World Athletics had already moved the women’s 5,000m heats to Wednesday evening because of the soaring heat and Hodgkinson admitted it has been a battle.
She said: “The conditions are awful. Mixed in with the 6am does not bode well for me.
“But I’ve got it done; I’m glad it’s the only morning round. I like to be back at 12 and done but I also like my sleep.
“Anti-doping came for me yesterday as well, at 6am at the door, so I was not happy. But as I say, first round out the way.
“It’s just (about) keeping cool. Even when I came the other night on Sunday to watch and just being sat there in the heat, it’s draining.”
Jemma Reekie joined Hodgkinson in the semi-finals after running one minute 59.71s and feels she is in a better place to challenge the best, following the split from coach Andy Young this year.
She said: “I expected Mu to be here and I want Mu to be here. I want them all in that final and I want me in that final. I want to run the best against the best in the world.
“It’s so nice compared to last year. Last year, I wasn’t ready. This year. I’m more than ready.
“I’m better than I’ve ever been. But you can’t take these heats and semis for granted.”
In the men’s 200m, Zharnel Hughes – who won 100m bronze on Sunday – breezed through to the semis in 19.99s.
“It was like a Sunday jog,” he said. “I’m inspired, after getting that medal it makes you want more. It makes you more committed and dedicated to see what more you can do.
“The job’s not done yet. I’m not disrespecting anyone, I’m just letting you know I am in shape. I am feeling well and I am looking forward to going through the rounds.”
Daryll Neita and Dina Asher-Smith overcame their 100m disappointment by reaching the women’s 200m semi-finals.
Asher-Smith finished eighth in the 100m final on Monday but won her heat in 22.46s and Neita, who failed to make the final, came second in her heat in 22.39s.
New 100m world champion Sha’Carri Richardson was the fastest qualifier in 22.16s.
Neita said: “I had to have a memory of a goldfish, the 100m didn’t go to plan, we will review it after the Championships. We all know I’m capable of much better things.
“It’s patience this game. I know where I’m at and what I need to work on. Doubling up before next year (Olympics), I’m getting a great rehearsal.”
Six Caribbean ladies will line up in Thursday’s 200 metres semi-finals, following contrasting performances in their respective heats on day five of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Wednesday.
The six, a Jamaican trio of reigning champion Shericka Jackson, Kevona Davis and Natalliah Whyte will be joined by Bahamian Anthonique Strachan, St Lucian Julien Alfred and young British Virgin Islands sensation, Adaejah Hodge. Another Jamaican Ashanti Moore was the only Caribbean athlete to miss out.
Strachan, running from lane nine, got the show going in the first heat, where she was comfortable from start to finish, stopping the clock in 22.31s, ahead of Great Britain’s Daryll Neita (22.39s), with Jael Betsue (22.58s) of Spain taking the third automatic spot.
Moore, who was giving the opportunity to run the event following Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal, found herself in a tough second heat. Though she went out hard, Moore had to settle for fifth in 23.12s, which was not good enough for one of the six non-automatic qualifying spots.
The heat was easily won by newly minted 100m champion American, Sha’Carri Richardson in 22.16s, ahead of Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou, who clocked a season’s best 22.26s. Olivia Fotopoulou of Cyprus clocked a new personal best 22.65s for the third spot.
Jackson, the reigning 200m champion, expectedly made light work of rivals in heat three, as she cruised to 22.51s. Singapore’s Veronica Shanti Pereira, was second in a national record 22.57s, with Jessika Gbai (22.78s) of Ivory Coast in third.
Though Hodge was fourth, her time of 22.82s, was good enough to progress as one of the non-automatic qualifiers.
St Lucia’s Alfred was tops in heat four, as she powered her way to 22.31s, ahead of Jamaica’s Whyte 22.44s, with Great Britain’s Bianca Williams (22.67s) in third.
The fifth and penultimate heat saw another young Jamaican Davis (22.49s), also booking her semi-final spot with a second-place finish behind American Gabrielle Thomas, who clocked 22.26s.
Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith justified favouritism in the final heat which she won in 22.46s.
You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.
Defending champion Highfield Princess will have 15 horses to beat after 16 runners were declared for a red-hot Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.
John Quinn’s star mare stormed to victory in this race in the midst of a phenomenal Group One treble last term and although she may have not reached the same heights this year, she has still performed with real credit and looked back to her very best when scoring at Goodwood earlier this month.
She will lock horns with both of her Ascot conquerors on the Knavesmire with Archie Watson’s King’s Stand champion Bradsell and Charlie Hills’ Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem featuring amongst those declared.
Frankie Dettori will partner Twilight Calls in his final Nunthorpe, with Henry Candy’s five-year-old attempting to replicate his grandsire Kyllachy and win this prestigious sprinting prize following a luckless run at the Royal meeting.
Course and distance scorer Regional could provide Ed Bethell with the biggest win of his career if securing a hat-trick in this high-class event, while Mick Appleby’s two-year-old Big Evs was supplemented at a cost of £40,000 and adds further spice to the mix.
Ascot Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami heads the seven declared for a competitive renewal of the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes.
John and Thady Gosden’s four-year-old announced himself as the new star of the staying division at Royal Ascot but now heads to York having suffered his first defeat when behind runaway scorer Quickthorn in the Goodwood Cup.
The six-year-old employed bold front-running tactics when thriving on the Sussex Downs, just as he did when romping away with this prize 12 months ago, and trainer Hughie Morrison will be hoping for more of the same.
Marco Botti’s Giavellotto returns to the scene of his Yorkshire Cup victory earlier in the season, while Andrew Balding’s Coltrane is an ultra-consistent performer at this level.
Ten go to post for the day’s feature two-year-old action and Kylian is a warm order to give Karl Burke a first Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes victory.
The Group Two contest is run over six furlongs, with Vintage Stakes hero Haatem (Richard Hannon), Action Point (Archie Watson) and Ballydoyle’s Windsor Castle runner-up Johannes Brahms others to note.
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