The runners are going to post for the opener here on the Knavesmire, theMarygate Fillies’ Stakesover five furlongs.Harry’s Girl(Richard Hannon/Tom Marquand) heads the betting on 7-4, withLove Olivia(Karl Burke/David Egan) next in at 5-2 for Kia Joorabchian’sAmo Racingoperation.Saucy Jane(Jack Morland/Sam James) andETERNAL SOLACE(Ollie Sangster/Trevor Whelan) are fancied too at 11-2 and 13-2 respectively and it’s 20-1 bar the four.
Many of the owners and trainers here this week will be hoping their horses run well enough to consider sending them to Royal Ascot, but one horse that will definitely not be heading to Berkshire next month isConstitution Hill,the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner, who has been scratched from theGold Cup,the Royal meeting’s feature event, on 19 June.
Constitution Hillfamously went unbeaten in his first 10 starts and is seen as one of the finest hurdlers of all time, but his career over jumps has unravelled since mid-March, with two falls, atCheltenhamandAintree, and thena lacklustre displayat Punchestown earlier this month.
His entry for the Gold Cup was somewhat unexpected to begin with, and the eight-year-old will now be turned out for the summer ahead of an expected return to action over hurdles in the autumn.
Good afternoon from the Knavesmire, where after two days with Epsom Classic trials at the top of the bill, attention turns to the stayers and the intriguing prospect ofRebel’s Romance –arguably the most under-appreciated horse in training, among British racing fans at least – stepping up beyond a mile-and-a-half for the first time.
Charlie Appleby’s seven-year-old is one of the biggest money-earners in global racing history, and already a member of the elite club of horses with earnings ofmore than £10m.His 16 wins from 24 starts include two victories in theBreeders’ Cup Turf,He has notched two wins in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, a victory in theSheema Classicat Meydan – the world’s joint-richest race on turf – andsevenGroup One or Grade One successes in all.
All seven, though, were recorded at a variety of high-profile tracks and meetings around the world, and his only Group-race win in Britain was a Group Three at Goodwood in July 2022. That could well change this afternoon, as he is the likely favourite for theGroup Two Yorkshire Cupdespite the question mark over the trip, and a victory at 14 furlongs would open up a range of new options for Appleby’s evergreen seven-year-old.
Today’s feature should be a decent test, despite the small field, as all five runners are currently priced up at single-figure odds.Continuous,the 2023 St Leger winner;Epic Poet,third in a Grade One in Dubai last time; andSweet William,runner-up behind the high-class Kyprios in last season’s Goodwood Cup all have the form to win, even if Rebel’s Romance’s stamina holds up.
The going on theKnavesmireremainsgood to firm, good in places,and the action is underway at 2.10 with theMarygate Fillies’ Stakes,something of a trial for the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.