Imposing chance for Sir Michael Stoute
It can be hard to believe in trainers who have a poor record in a race but there are always exceptions.
Since Icona won for him in 1989, Sir Michael Stoute has saddled eight losing favourites or joint-favourites for the John Smith’s Cup at York but that should not detract from his entry for the 51st running of this valuable handicap.
Stoute return this time with Imposing, a course and distance winner who was beaten a neck in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot on his latest start. The colt had been off the track with a fracture since making his one and only start last year at the Craven meeting when he ran in a handicap at the Dante meeting in May.
It looked significant that his high-profile connections - Derrick Smith, Mrs Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor - had decided to keep him in training, and this performance gives the indication as to why when he stayed on strongly through the home straight and won with a fair bit in hand.
At the royal meeting the hold-up tactics which are said to be essential for Imposing (pictured) did not quite work out as he just failed to reel in Cill Rialaig by a neck but the long home straight at York can work to Imposing’s favour once more.
At Ascot the Group Two totesport.com Summer Mile looks open and King Of Dixie could spring a surprise. He disappointed at Goodwood last time and has now run badly three times at Goodwood, but looked the part when he beat Cityscape over course and distance in a Listed race in April.
There are two Listed races at Chester and Lord Shanakill, a Group One winner in France 12 months ago, can win the totepool City Plate while Borderlescott, a dual winner of the Nunthorpe Stakes, should have a bit too much class for his rivals in the totesport City Wall Stakes.
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