Without a win since last year's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, Trip To Paris (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) faces an ideal opportunity to regain that thread in Friday's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York. After a highly respectable comeback third in the 10-furlong Listed Steventon S. at Newbury July 16, the bay who was also second in the G1 Caulfield Cup and fourth in the G1 Melbourne Cup before sustaining a tendon injury in the G1 Japan Cup looks set fair but trainer Ed Dunlop is sounding a note of caution. “If he hadn't had an injury then you would say he should be a short-priced favourite, but he lacks a bit of match practice,” he said. “We've been pleased with him since his run and, touch wood, he's had no issues going into the Lonsdale Cup. He still shows his enthusiasm and looks to have retained the ability he showed last year–he's where we want him. It's his first run back in a staying race after a tendon injury, so there's always that in the back of one's mind, but he's had a very clear run, looks very well and is a fresh horse. Friday is about bringing this horse back after a serious injury and learning more about how we are getting on with him.”
Second to Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) in the July 28 G2 Goodwood Cup, Qatar Racing's Pallasator (GB) (Motivator {GB}) has much to commend him here and he has largely been more consistent since taking the G2 Doncaster Cup over 18 furlongs in September. Another old-stager is the May 13 G2 Yorkshire Cup winner Clever Cookie (GB) (Primo Valentino {Ire}), who was a touch unlucky when seventh in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot June 16 and has enjoyed a summer break subsequently.
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