JJ ready for the July cup

Scenic Blast connections confident about Cup bid

SCENIC BLAST has his connections brimming with confidence as he bids to become the first horse since Never So Bold 24 years ago to win both the King's Stand Stakes and Darley July Cup.

Australians have become accustomed to success at Royal Ascot but trainer Danny Morton believes Scenic Blast can improve on his impressive display in the King's Stand, in which he beat Fleeting Spirit by three-quarters of a length.

Fleeting Spirit is among the opposition again, as are Golden Jubilee winner Art Connoisseur and top South African J J The Jet Plane. However, Queen Anne Stakes winner Paco Boy will not run if the ground is too fast.

Morton said: "The horse has come out of the race really well and he'll strip fitter for this one. This year the horse has been going from strength to strength.


"I think it's a real bonus we have been able to take him to the July course twice and work alongside Takeover Target. The course won't be foreign to him. The undulating track has been in the back of my mind, but he's had some experience there and he's the sort of horse who travels well in his races and that will help him."



Jockey Jay Ford is sticking to the view that Scenic Blast's compatriot Takeover Target can still have a say in the destination of the Group 1 race.

Unable to run at Royal Ascot because of a temperature, Takeover Target has one shot at adding another British prize to the King's Stand success he secured three years ago.

Ford said: "After Scenic Blast won the King's Stand, we've been able to slip under the radar, but I reckon we'll let them all know we're there on Friday and will give the scribes something to write about.

The big day is here and the best prices I can find

15/10 scenic, 9/2 paco and 9/1 jj and 2/1 for a place

look forward to the race

J J The Jet Plane can show his true worth in Friday's Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

A champion back home in his native South Africa, his reputation was tarnished somewhat when he could finish only fourth in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot.

However, that run was not as bad as it originally looked because once he was headed, he showed great courage to fight back and was actually gaining on the leaders again at the line.

The excuse put forward was that he was racing on over-watered ground and he could not grab the turf properly having been used to fast surfaces.

This theory would stand up as his only other recent defeat came when tried on dirt out in Dubai where he bombed out badly.

He showed he could handle racing in this country when winning with his head in his chest at Windsor.

While the Aussies Scenic Blast and Takeover Target will be tough nuts to crack, Mike de Kock has lost none of his faith in the five-year-old.

What time is the race being shown?

It's the 3.10 at Newmarket, so 4.10 here I think.

With the going firming up, JJ's chances will get better. The double with Lesson in Humility.

Rooting for the team

Just leaving to see the 'Plane' fly at headquarters - holding thumbs for a fast run race with JJ flying past at the 16th post!

Ouzo Lucky, I'll be sure to have a jar or two for you if he brings home the bacon m8 - Jimmy

Jam if that guy can have another drink after last night he's made of steel! And guess what he was up working his string at sparrows!! He's way too strong for me this Greek chap!

Just spoke with Lucky, he is well aware of the strenght of the field and is a bit nervous, the mind boggles if it can beat the cream of the crop.

Some basic career comparisons:

Scenic Blast 18/10
(18) 8 - 5 - 2, all turf -> (12) 4 - 4 - 2 in stakes races
Paco Boy 5/1
(14) 9 - 0 - 1 -> (12) 8 - 0 - 0 turf -> (10) 6 - 0 - 0 in stakes races
J J The Jet Plane 9/1
(14) 9 - 0 - 1 -> (12) 8 - 0 - 1 turf -> (10) 6 - 0 - 1 in stakes races
Art Connoisseur 11/1
(7) 4 - 1 - 0, all turf -> (4) 2 - 1 - 0 in stakes races
Fleeting Spirit 14/1
(10) 4 - 3 - 1, all turf -> ( 3 - 3 - 1 in stakes races
Takeover Target 14/1
(40) 21 - 6 - 4, all turf -> (31) 13 - 6 - 3 in stakes races

Good luck "Lucky" im sure you agree with my instructions..lol