THREAT, one of the leading two-year-olds last season, can relish the drop back in trip from a mile to six furlongs in Saturday's Darley July Cup at Newmarket.
Richard Hannon's colt, who won the Gimcrack Stakes at York and the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in 2019, looked to have done really well since when reappearing in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot where he laid down a challenge going easily early in the home straight only for his stamina to give out behind Palace Pier, Pinatubo and Wichita.
On that performance, Threat clearly looks to have trained on and retained his tactical speed, and this race has been won by high-class non-staying milers in the past.
Impressive Commonwealth Cup winner Golden Horde twice finished in front of Threat last season but there was only three-quarters of a length between them in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood and the selection must have every chance of turning the tables yet is a much bigger price.
The older horses are well represented with Hello Youmzain, Sceptical and Khaadem, who finished first, third and fourth in last month's Diamond Jubilee, taking each other again in a typically competitive renewal.
Later on, VALE OF KENT is taken to defy top weight and repeat last year's victory in the bet365 Bunbury Cup.
Mark Johnston's ultra-tough gelding also ran well in other top handicaps in 2019 and has resumed in similar heart, finishing fourth in the Royal Hunt Cup (form very strong) and, most recently, making the smart Safe Voyage work hard to win last week's listed Surrey Stakes at Epsom.
That performance suggests that Vale Of Kent is capable of winning off this mark, albeit 9lb higher than last year, and he is a horse who seems to thrive on a busy schedule. As last year, Frankie Dettori takes the mount and the pair look over-priced.
At Ascot, STAG HORN should relish the step up to two miles in the concluding Betfred "Thanks To All The Key Workers" Handicap.
Archie Watson's son of Golden Horn (out of a Galileo mare), looked short of a gear over a mile and ten furlongs in three starts as a two-year-old, but was in his element over a mile and six furlongs on his return at Goodwood where he readily accounted for subsequent winner Bondi Sands.
The further the better for Stag Horn and he looks a good bet to defy a 6lb rise.
Posted at 1635 BST on 10/07/20
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