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Soft ground may hinder July Cup contenders While there is no denying his latent class, it is the fortunes of Bated Breath which have been in the lap of the gods of late, and he has earned the unfortunate tag of 'nearly horse' after four runner-up finishes at the top level ahead of Saturday's Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket. On the last occasion, the homebred was denied his favored fast surface in the June 19 Group 1 King's Stand at Royal Ascot and that is the case again Saturday, as Britain's wet summer continues to play havoc. Trainer Roger Charlton is unsure as to whether he should run on the prevalent easy ground and stressed yesterday that a late decision was on the cards. "I'm afraid it will probably be (Saturday) before we make a final decision," he told PA Sport. "There's been more rain overnight, and the ground is going to be soft whichever way you look at it. "It's a feeling of frustration really. It applies to a lot of trainers, I'm sure, this weather is driving us mad, as so few Flat horses want soft ground. He's as well as I can have him and he must have a favorite's chance, but on soft ground I just don't know. I'm tempted to run but I will be guided by the owner." Another who will dislike the soft is the supplemented Strong Suit, who was set to revert to sprinting after a latest flop in the one-mile Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot June 19. "The owners were aware of the risk they were taking when they supplemented Strong Suit at the start of the week, but their first priority is the horse and if we think that the ground will be unsuitable, then he will not run," trainer Richard Hannon said of last year's Group 2 Challenge and Group 2 Lennox scorer. Unlike the aforementioned duo, Sepoy could be at home on the surface, as he has winning form on similar. He has succeeded at Group 1 level four times in his native Australia, so there are no question marks as to his capabilities in this company, and connections are keen that he bury the memory of his latest effort when running too freely and trailing in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on the Tapeta at Meydan March 31. "Sepoy disappointed in Dubai and I am not sure why he ran badly--maybe it was the surface or the traveling from Australia," new trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni commented. "He looks in good form at the moment and is doing everything the right way. Soft ground should suit him, because he won the (Group 1) Manikato Stakes on similar ground. His form in Australia was very impressive, and it will be interesting to see how it compares with the form of European horses." Another bound for a return to Australia after this is Ortensia, who also has a disappointment to put behind her after finishing ninth as the joint-favorite for the King's Stand. Her previous win in the March 31 Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint is a more accurate measure of her ability, and conditioner Paul Messara is hoping she can rebound and provide Australia with a first renewal after the failures of a host of top-class sprinters including Choisir, Exceed and Excel, Takeover Target, Scenic Blast and Star Witness. "She's still working really well and I can see her running her best," he said earlier this week. "She worked on the course proper here, and I'm very pleased with her going into the race. We prefer the firmer the better, and it's no doubt the track here is very soft, but, if she can run up to her best, she can be involved in the finish. We expect her to bounce back and she'll certainly be competitive." In the year the Games come to Britain, it is fitting that Julie Wood's Olympic Glory has already established a foothold on the upper ranks of the juvenile division and bids to extend his influence in Saturday's Group 2 Superlative at Newmarket. Impressive on debut at Goodwood June 8, he was beaten just three-quarters of a length when finishing strongly to be second to Dawn Approach in the Group 2 Coventry over six furlongs at Royal Ascot June 19. He had the highly-regarded pair of Cristoforo Colombo and Sir Prancealot behind on that occasion, with Artigiano and Lines of Battle in fifth and sixth, respectively. "It was on the soft side when Olympic Glory made an impressive winning debut at Goodwood, so we hope that he will cope with the conditions okay," trainer Richard Hannon said. "He was doing all his best work at the end when runner-up in the Coventry at Royal Ascot, and we all walked off the stands that day saying seven furlongs next time and this looks the perfect race." Lines of Battle, who won his debut over six furlongs at The Curragh May 27, has had that form work out well in the interim with the third Probably going on to success in the Group 2 Railway. He may not be helped by the soft ground, which also applies to Artigiano, whose trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni said, "Artigiano has improved since Royal Ascot and he looks in really good form. The step up to seven furlongs will suit him much better, and a nice pace will play to his strengths. I am hopeful of another good run." Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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