York's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York serves as a warm-up for the Melbourne Cup and with the Ricci-Mullins axis having gone so close to glory in that Antipodean feature two years ago there is much expectation surrounding Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling) here. Stablemate Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}) captured this en route to an agonising half-length defeat at Flemington and Thomas Hobson has similar credentials after winning the Ascot S. and finishing second in the Queen Alexandra S. on the Tuesday and Saturday of Royal Ascot.
“He ran two fantastic races at Ascot and almost completed the Simenon double,” trainer Willie Mullins's son and assistant Patrick Mullins said. “I suppose we are trying to make him into a Melbourne Cup horse and he probably needs to go up a few more pounds in the handicap and hopefully he can achieve that with a good run at York. Dropping back in trip should not be a problem, as he is quite versatile trip-wise.”
With The Queen's Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) saddled with a penalty after his success in the 14-furlong G2 Yorkshire Cup on May 19, he could be vulnerable to an improver and one who fits that bill is St Albans Bloodstock Limited's Dal Harraild (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}). He was just 3/4 of a length behind Dartmouth when they were fourth and sixth in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot last time on June 24, but was previously impressive when taking the Listed Grand Cup over a mile and three quarters here on May 27. “We rode him wrong at Ascot, it was my fault,” trainer William Haggas said. “We got sucked into running him because of the ground and when we were drawn where we were we decided to make the running. The trip was too short really, but this is his trip and the ground will dry up nicely. He's been crying out for this trip for a year and now he finally gets the chance to run over it. He's a very good horse on his day.”
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