G1 Nunthorpe S | Horse Racing Free Tips

Nunthorpe Next Port of Call for The Lir Jet

Royal Ascot hero The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), second by only a nose in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly on Sunday, will make his next start against elders in the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. in August. Originally campaigned by Nick Bell and trained by Michel Bell, the bay sparkled on debut at Yarmouth on June 3 and was subsequently purchased privately by Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing. The acquisition proved a shrewd one, as The Lir Jet captured the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot on June 19, still in Bell’s care.

Bell said, “He’s back in the yard and seems none the worse for his exertions, thankfully. I’ve just been talking to Sheikh Fahad and I think we’re going to drop back to five furlongs for the Nunthorpe–that’s the thinking at the moment. Oisin [Murphy] is pretty emphatic that he’s better horse over five furlongs and the form book would suggest that, too.”

Facing the best European sprinters in the Nunthorpe, The Lir Jet will fortunately receive a hefty break in the weights.

“If the Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) we know turns up, he’ll be a worthy favourite, but if we don’t go there you’d be running somewhere carrying penalties, or running over six furlongs in the G1 Prix Morny, which would mean more travelling,” Bell added. “It’s not set in stone, but Sheikh Fahad’s view is you don’t succeed if you don’t try, which is a good attitude to have.”

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Nunthorpe S. Next for Sceptical

A trip to York for the G1 Nunthorpe S. is the next major target for Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) following another excellent effort in defeat in Saturday’s G1 Darley July Cup. Denis Hogan’s 4-year-old has made remarkable progress since opening his account at Dundalk in November–going on to complete a hat-trick at the County Louth venue before landing a listed prize at Naas and finishing a half-length third in the G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot. With Frankie Dettori keeping the ride at Newmarket, Sceptical this time filled the runner-up spot, 1 1/4 lengths behind the Roger Teal-trained Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}). Hogan reports his stable star to have returned to Ireland none the worse and he will now be prepared for a third tilt at Group 1 glory in the Coolmore-sponsored feature on Aug. 21.

“He was back home yesterday [Sunday] and he seems to come out of the race well. He was a bit tired from all the travelling, but he’s good and sound, which is the main thing,” said the Tipperary-based trainer. “At the moment the plan is to go for the Nunthorpe. Frankie felt coming back to five [furlongs] would suit, which obviously means we’ll have to take on Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), but we’ll probably give it a go.

“There is a Group 3 at The Curragh on Aug. 9–the Phoenix Sprint S. We’ll just see how he is over the next few days and then decide whether to run him there first or just go straight to York.

“After the Nunthorpe you’ve got the Flying Five back at the Curragh [Sept. 13] and Frankie mentioned the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp, but the obvious worry with that race would be the ground can come up pretty soft. There are plenty of options and it’s just a case of picking out the right races for him.”

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Sceptical Camp Eyes July Cup and Nunthorpe

G1SP Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) is likely to return to England in a bid for sprint honours at the top level following his narrow defeat in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot where he was third to Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) for trainer Denis Hogan. Hogan will look at the G1 Darley July Cup and the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. for his stable star. Sceptical, a winner at listed level in Ireland, is also the highest rated speedster in Ireland, with four wins on the bounce before his Royal Ascot adventure.

“It was bitter sweet, I suppose,” said Hogan. “It could have been a brilliant day, but it was still a great day in fairness. He did himself proud and he’ll be back again. We’ll see about the July Cup and Nunthorpe. He’s in the [G3] Greenlands next Sunday [at the Curragh], but I’d imagine that will come too soon. We’ll give him a chance, because he’s been busy enough.”

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