Ground crucial for Defiance's John Smith's Cup bid
'He's a lovely horse who had his problems last year, he got very jarred up in the Lingfield Derby Trial and we couldn't really get him back,' said Harry Herbert of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, who own the gelding.
'We had to give him a lot of time and he's come back this year in really good shape, had a run at Epsom where he could have been a bit closer but he was just caught too far back.
'I think he's come on again for that run according to Roger, but we will take a look at the ground. If it's rattling quick we won't run and will wait until Goodwood. It looks like it is going to be hot up there but we'll see where we are the day before.
'It will be Roger's call but the horse is in great form, he looks fantastic and he's well thought of. We've not seen anything like the best of this horse yet, so it will be disappointing if he can't run as this has been his target for such a long time.'
Karl Burke's course-and-distance winner Thunder Run has been left at the head of the weights following a host of withdrawals at the five-day stage, which included ante-post favourite Burrito.
William Haggas' Archivist sits alongside Defiance in the new market with Arabian Force, See That Storm, Hand Of God and Naqeeb others in the mix
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘She could be very smart' – Templegate's NAP to burst through under top jockey
TEMPLEGATE takes on Tuesday's racing confident of building the bank for next week's Ebor meeting at York. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. SILENT CITY (4.07 Lingfield, nap) Roger Varian's filly looked potentially smart when bolting up by nearly four lengths at Windsor two starts ago. She had an inexperienced jockey in the plate when she allowed a useful rival too much rope at Hamilton last time, but she still pulled miles clear of the rest. With Silvestre De Sousa back on board, she can return to winning ways. NOBLE HORIZON (7.10 Hamilton, nb) Bumped into a useful horse at Newmarket two starts ago. He made no mistake in a weaker race at Leicester 26 days ago and he can go on a roll now for his top stable. Came back to form with a good second at Musselburgh last time. He is a C&D winner and is still on a winning mark. VALOR SPIRIT (2.15 Carlisle, Lucky 15) He ran three nice races on maidens and goes handicapping off a fair mark with a top apprentice taking off 5lb. Templegate's tips CARLISLE 2.15 Valor Spirit 2.45 One Of Our Own 3.15 Curran 3.50 Ice Sovereigns 4.25 Reenie's Dream 5.00 Homeland LINGFIELD 2.30 Semser 3.00 Al Joory 3.32 Perfect Panda 4.07 Silent City (nap) 4.42 Foinix 5.17 Dogged HAMILTON 5.40 Happier 6.10 Star Noir 6.40 Golden Horse 7.10 Noble Horizon (nb) 7.40 Novak (treble) 8.10 Shabu Shabu 8.40 Temper Trap Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
The Herald Scotland
9 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Middleham Park happy to be heading straight to Doncaster with Lazy Griff
Owners Middleham Park Racing considered a trip overseas in a bid for a Group One breakthrough with Lazy Griff, but have instead elected to keep their powder dry for the world's oldest Classic on September 13. 'We thought about going to Germany for the race Rebel's Romance won (on Sunday), but it was quite a warm race and we didn't really want to leave any Leger chances over there,' said Middleham Park's Mike Prince. Christophe Soumillon returns aboard Lazy Griff after his runner-up finish at Epsom (PA) 'There's the Great Voltigeur next week, but we felt there wasn't going to be enough time between that and Doncaster. I think the ground will be plenty quick at York for him anyway and waiting for September just gives us the chance for hopefully a little bit softer ground if the weather breaks in the next couple of weeks. 'Charlie has had the Leger in mind for him all year and we'll go straight there now, that is absolutely the plan.' Paddy Power make Lazy Griff the 7-1 third-favourite for the St Leger, with the O'Brien-trained pair of Scandinavia and his old rival Lambourn the two ahead of him in the betting at 5-4 and 7-2 respectively. Prince added: 'I'd say Scandinavia might be the favourite (to run) out of the two, just because of the trips he's been running over. I wonder whether they'll go for the Arc with Lambourn, you never know. 'Whatever Aidan sends will probably go off favourite, whether it's Scandinavia or Lambourn, and if he sends both then I suspect they'll both be ahead of us in the market. Scandinavia will be one of the big dangers to Lazy Griff at Doncaster (Matt Alexander/PA) 'He's got plenty of ammo, but we're all geared up and ready to go.' The Middleham Park team have also started to make plans beyond Doncaster, with Prince saying: 'We've given him an entry in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot and I suppose the options after the St Leger are that and the Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud at the end of October. 'It'll probably be the Leger and then one of those.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
'I received my O-level results via a half-time announcement'
You have been sharing your stories and photos about why you love is a final selection of your submissions, but do make sure you scroll down this page to see all the best responses from throughout the week: Roger: Supporter since 1961 when my dad first took me to Dean Court aged five. My first away match was at Luton in 1969. The promotions are special memories - York 1971, Fulham 1987, Carlisle 2013, Charlton 2015 and Nottingham Forest 2022.I received my O-level results away at Watford in August 1972 via a half time announcement. A shame we lost 3-2 (after being 2-0 up!). Ron: I was nine years old when the Football League restarted after World War Two. Together with a group of pals I would cycle 10 miles each way every Saturday afternoon to Dean Court (now Vitality Stadium) to watch either the first team or the reserves of Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic FC. I have followed them through thick and thin, from Division Three (South) to the dizzy heights of the Premier 78, distance and infirmity preclude me from attending matches, but I often wonder if there are any of my contemporaries who recall those times.
