Kind Of Blue on retrieval mission in Chipchase
James Fanshawe's star speedster claimed Group One honours at Ascot last October and was being teed-up for a return to the Berkshire track for the Royal meeting.
However, after his belated reappearance at Chantilly in the Prix du Gros-Chene went wrong leaving the stalls and with owners Wathnan Racing having a crack team for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the decision was taken to take stock and divert to the slightly calmer waters of this Group Three event.
Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown said: 'The plan was to obviously give him the prep race in France and it all just went wrong and he was left standing in the stalls for a very long time, then the horse next to him reared causing him to rear just as they were about to let them go and we missed the break by a very long way.
'We decided to miss Ascot because we wanted to get him back on track before building back up, so we dodged Ascot and obviously we had Lazzat and Flora Of Bermuda for that race (first and third).
'We left Ascot behind in favour of coming here to hopefully give him a chance to start his season properly and we're looking forward to seeing him run.'
Kind Of Blue's display at Gosforth Park could determine how the rest of his season maps out, with connections keen to see the same dash of quality that made the son of Blue Point a must have purchase for the Emir of Qatar's team last autumn.
'I think the July Cup will come too soon, but we will see how this goes before making any firm plans,' continued Brown, when assessing future options.
'At the moment we want to see Kind Of Blue show us he's as good as he was on Champions Day last year. All the signs are positive and he's been working very well but he's got to go and show it on the racecourse.
'We'll watch him run and make a plan after that.'
However, Kind Of Blue will not get things all his own way with Jack Channon's progressive Ferrous now stepping into Group company in the form of his life after racking up an early season hat-trick.
'He's in great form, obviously after his last win we had the Chipchase on our minds so we've freshened him right up,' said Channon, whose five-year-old was a winner over course and distance in May.
'He's had time out in the paddock and has been training really well the last few weeks. He went for a racecourse gallop last week, it went really well so we are all set for Saturday.'
Others with winning form at Newcastle in the race include Clive Cox's Diligent Harry and Mick Appleby's Annaf, while Owen Burrows' Alyanaabi was second to City Of Troy as a juvenile and now scratches the itch of connections to try six furlongs sporting first-time blinkers.
'It's a stiff six at Newcastle and Jim (Crowley) has always intimated he wouldn't mind trying that' said Burrows.
'We're going first-time blinkers as well, so we thought this might be the perfect time to give it a go.
'He was obviously disappointing at Haydock last time and Jim felt he perhaps wasn't putting 100 per cent in hence the blinkers. But he's been fine since and goes there in good shape.'
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The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘His rapid improvement shows no sign of stopping' – Templegate's 7-2 Saturday NAP
TEMPLEGATE takes on a busy Saturday of racing confident of bashing the bookies. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. PABORUS (2.25 York, nap) Has won four of his past five starts and can keep his excellent run of form going here. He signed off last season clocking a fast time while winning in good company on the Southwell sand. That was over this trip and he struck on comeback at Thirsk last time out in April. He went through the gears with the minimum of fuss there and could have won by a lot more than the official margin of two lengths. He takes a fair hike in class here but looks well up to it for trainer Ed Bethell who really put himself on the map with a couple of big wins at Royal Ascot last week. With William Buick in the saddle he will take a lot of beating even at Group 3 level. KIND OF BLUE (2.10 Newcastle, nb) We'll stick with Wathnan Racing and their speedster in the Chipchase Stakes. He's a proven Group 1 sprinter who needed the run after a long break in France last time. James Fanshawe's flyer looks a cut above these rivals. PAPPANO (3.15 Newcastle, treble) Has success on a Northumberland Plate! Jumps legend Willie Mullins is starting to make his mark on the level too and this former Gosden runner will relish this challenge in the big one at Newcastle. He stays and looks on a fair weight. 1.40 ARAMRAM ran well in the Wokingham last week, finishing like a train after missing the kick. He's best over this trip and could have more to offer. He's gone well on the all-weather before. Pocklington goes well here and is best after a break so don't worry about his 311 days off. He looks solid each-way. Durham Castle is progressive and had a bit up his sleeve when going in at Windsor last time. This trip suits and he's another with tapeta form. Arctic Thunder came home strongly into second at Haydock on just his second run for Ed Walker and is another to note. 2.10 KIND OF BLUE is a proven Group 1 performer who should be much too good. He finished last season winning the Champions Sprint at Ascot and can be forgiven his comeback in France last time when missing the break by half a furlong. He doesn't usually do that and will be much smarter away today. Ferrous is a classy handicapper who deserves a crack at this level. He won well here last time and is best over today's trip. Fair Angellica took Listed honours at Salisbury when enjoying the drop to this distance and can hold her own again. Spycatcher is proven in this grade and is capable of hitting the frame wisely dropping back from seven furlongs. 2.40 CONTACTO went close at Goodwood last time on his first crack at this two-mile trip. He should come on for that first outing in nine months and he looks capable of better over extreme trips. Godsend was well backed for the Plate but didn't quite get in. He's a typical Sir Mark Prescott improver who made it four in a row at Nottingham last time. This is his toughest assignment yet from another 7lb higher but he'll be right there. Humble Spark has four Newcastle wins on his CV and stays well. He was far from disgraced in this grade at Haydock last time and looks a player. Savrola is consistent over slightly shorter trips and went close at Hamilton last time. He's got place claims. Gibside won over 2m2f at Chester last month and is another serious contender. 3.15 PAPPANO was useful on the level for the Gosdens and can take a step forward on this Flat debut for Irish genius Willie Mullins. He has gone well in Listed company and looks on a fair weight under Jamie Spencer who can time his run right. East India Dock hit traffic issues when running a cracker in the Ascot Stakes and the Chester Cup winner looks a real threat. 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Leader Live
12 hours ago
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Pappano bidding to give Mullins another major prize
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Leader Live
12 hours ago
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Composing calls the tune in informative Curragh maiden
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