Big Day Ahead

York’s G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup marks the latest in the series of “Cup” races for the stayers in Britain and is a relative newcomer on the scene alongside the established ones at Goodwood and Doncaster, but it has attracted all the horses that matter Friday.

Having beaten Quest For More (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Trip To Paris (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) by a neck and a short head in a thriller in the G2 Goodwood Cup last time July 30, Bill Gredley’s Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) attempts to underline his burgeoning reputation in this sphere. Previously, he had got the better of the subsequent G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) in the G2 Princess of Wales’s S. over a mile and a half at Newmarket July 9 and trainer Michael Bell is in understandably confident mood.

“Big Orange has been in good form since his Goodwood win and physically looks in very good shape,” he commented. “Melbourne is very much the plan and the Lonsdale will be his last run before the [G1] Melbourne Cup [Flemington, Nov. 3]. He has had a stellar summer and hopefully it continues on Friday. His win at Newmarket came as a bit of a surprise, but we expected him to run very well at Goodwood and he did it well. He is a lovely horse–a strong galloper with lots of scope and a really great attitude.”

Trip To Paris again has a penalty to carry as he had at Goodwood due to his success in the June 18 G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, where the long-absent dual G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Tac de Boistron (Fr) (Take Risks {Fr}) was virtually pulled up. Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock’s ground-dependent 8-year-old looks to have more suitable underfoot conditions now, but trainer Marco Botti is keeping an eye on how the surface dries.

“It was too fast at Ascot and he never let himself down on it,” he said. “One thing for sure is that it shouldn’t be that fast. It is a tough race and looks a proper Group 2, but he seems fine and well. The owners will make the final decision and if they don’t want to risk him we won’t and will wait for something like the Irish St Leger.”

Tac de Boistron was second to Clever Cookie (GB) (Primo Valentino {GB}) in the G3 Ormonde S. over an extended 13 furlongs at Chester May 8 and that rival has since been fifth in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot July 25, but he also needs an easy surface.

“The track stayed away from watering because of the big race on Wednesday, so hopefully there’s enough give,” trainer Peter Niven commented. “He’s better than ever–his whole year has been built around this time of the season. We’ve got this race, the Irish Leger and then Ascot so if he doesn’t run it won’t be the end of the world.”