Dandy ready for July test
Saturday 14 July 2012
Dandy Boy tries his hand at the top level after being supplemented for the Darley July Cup on the back of an impressive win in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot.
Trainer David Marnane feels his charge deserves his place in the Newmarket line-up, but has concerns about ground conditions and the undulating track.
He said: "He's a super horse, he owes us nothing and he's entitled to take his chance in these races. The ground is an issue and he's done most of his winning on level tracks. I just hope he's OK - a big horse like him on those undulations, but he has a tendency to travel well so that should help him."
Marnane went on: "Softer ground is a debate really. I probably wouldn't be mad about it, but he has won over six on yielding to soft at Fairyhouse and has been Group Three placed over a mile on soft ground at the Curragh.
"There's a little hope that he can handle the ground and it might not help some of the other horses. We're in now so we are going to take our chance. Please God he runs a nice race."
Dandy Boy is a best-priced 10-1 with Bet365 and Paddy Power on the morning line.
The Richard Fahey-trained Mayson started off the season in excellent form, finishing third at Doncaster before bagging consecutive wins on the Rowley Mile. But he has failed to fire at York and Newcastle subsequently and Paul Hanagan is just hopeful his mount can bounce back.
"I just want him to put that disappointing last run behind him. The run before that I was very confident but it was a bit of a disaster. He got very upset in the stalls," the jockey said.
"If you put those two runs behind him and go back his form at Newmarket then he could run well. He seems in great form at home. I have always liked him and I'm just hoping he can come back to form."
Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni saddles the potential dark horse of the race in Australian import Sepoy. He is officially rated higher than any of the home contingent having won four Group Ones Down Under, showing a liking for cut in the ground.
"He's in good form and is ready to have a run. I think the ground will suit him, he won a Group One in Australia on soft, but how good he is compared to the British horses, I don't know. His form is very difficult to judge when you try and compare him to the horses over here. He has worked nicely, so we will see," said the trainer.
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