Appleby bidding for staying double
Charlie Appleby's Plate winner has been in good form at home and Appleby is confident of a big run from both him and Oceanographer
CHARLIE APPLEBY's Antiquarium aims to emulate Sergeant Cecil by winning the Northumberland Plate and Betfred Ebor in the same season.
Rod Millman's popular stayer also landed the Cesarewitch in 2005 before subsequently proving himself at the highest level, and Appleby has set his sights on a big-race double.
The four-year-old Antiquarium stayed on with real purpose to win the 'Pitmen's Derby' at Newcastle, running down local hero Seamour inside the final furlong in the hands of James McDonald.
He will have William Buick in the saddle on this occasion and has a 6lb rise to contend with in a race in which stablemate Oceanographer will also shoulder an extra 4lb for a win at Doncaster. He will be ridden by Martin Lane.
"Antiquarium turns up in good order. The ground shouldn't be a problem to him. There's a bit of rain on the way as well," said Appleby.
"We were delighted with Oceanographer's last run, a different running style, dropped in there. He galloped it out strongly that day.
"We think he'll get the trip. That's the question mark now.
"Both horses are in good shape and we're looking forward to it."
Ante-post punters were dealt a blow on Friday morning when the Willie Mullins-trained Ivan Grozny was ruled out through lameness.
However, Millman is the beneficiary of that setback as his Havana Beat now gets a run having been a reserve.
Top weight is Mick Channon's Elidor, who was a winner at Goodwood last time out.
"He has been perfect since Goodwood. We haven't done much with him - just kept him happy and fresh," said Channon.
"He is has a 4lb penalty for his Goodwood win and obviously a fair bit of weight on his back. That said, he is a class horse - he was beaten just a length by Dartmouth in the Ormonde Stakes.
"After that run at Chester, he ran poorly twice and we gave him a thorough MOT. Nothing came to light and he bounced back at Goodwood.
"If the same Elidor as that turns up at York, he's in with a chance.
"We don't want too much rain. I'd like the ground to stay at it is. A bit of rain wouldn't do any harm.
"He's already been placed in an Ebor (2014) and is pretty consistent. We hope we go there with a chance."
Hughie Morrison runs two, Vent De Force and Fun Mac, but he is hardly brimming with confidence about the chances of either.
"We've got stall six and 11 and I suppose that's about the best you could hope for with two runners," said Morrison.
"I hope they'll run well, but I'm not particularly bullish about either of them and I'm not sure why.
"They've both got plenty of ability but probably need good to soft ground - my worry is it could get very soft if it rains on ground which has been watered recently."
One trainer who wants the rain is Marco Botti who fields Plate seventh Seismos.
"In a way I was hoping he'd have been drawn in the middle, not 16, but it's not the end of the world," said the Italian.
"He ran a very good race at Newcastle when he wasn't beaten far.
";What he needs is soft ground and they are forecast rain which is why we declared.
"He's in great form, he might be eight but is lightly raced. We've saved him for certain races but he's rarely had his ground.
"As he's not the quickest early in the race, a low draw wouldn't have been an advantage anyway."
Scottish trainer Iain Jardine is making a name for himself but if his dual purpose horse Shrewd can win the Ebor, it will really put him on the map.
"He's drawn reasonably well (10) but he's a hold-up horse anyway so it wasn't that important," said Jardine.
"The rain forecast is a blessing as he likes to feel a bit of juice in the ground.
"His last run at York in the Listed race was a career-best so he's going the right way.
"There seems to be a lot of exposed horses in the race but he wouldn't be one of them, he's still improving.
"We're claiming 7lb from him so if he gets a good ride, he should go well. Clifford (Lee) rides well.
"We're hopeful of a good run, I couldn't put anyone off having an each-way bet on him if we get enough rain."
Ralph Beckett is another with two chances in She Is No Lady and Royal Ascot winner Kinema.
"I've declared both of them hoping the forecast is right and the rain arrives," he said.
"Basically, She is No Lady has got a good draw (stall five) and Kinema has a terrible one (20).
"Both are going in good shape, we just need rain."
