There are two cracking heritage handicaps taking place today. The John Smith's Cup at York and the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket. This column looks at the Bunbury Cup where a maximum field of 20 runners go to post for this calvary charge on Newmarket's July course.
The Bunbury cup is a fantastic race and no surprise to see a maximum field of 20 declared. My final four for this race were Jumby, Rhoscolyn, Star of Orion & Roper Guest. I feel Jumby might struggle with the 7f trip and Star of Orion has failed to show his 3yo form this season so far so they are passed over today. Rhoscolyn is a consistent horse who travelled very well off the pace in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He came up the middle and the lower drawn horses enjoyed a pace advantage with Inver Park coming out on top, a length ahead of Ropey Guest and Rhoscolyn beaten for second by a short head. He races today from the same mark of 103 and brings a bit of class to this handicap having run so well in Listed and Group 2 races this season. The fast ground is not an issue and James Doyle takes over riding duties with Danny Tudhope riding at York today.
Ropey Guest ran a cracker at Royal Ascot when beaten a length by Inver Park. He finished a short head in front of third places Rhoscolyn. Earlier this season he finished fifth in the Victoria Cup when drawn on the wrong side and ran well to finish fourth in a listed race at Windsor over 6f. This horse looks back on good terms with himself and is well in on his run in this race last season. He was draw in stall 19 last season with the pace on the near side not favouring his group. Ropey Guest came through to lead the far side group over a furlong out and plugged on gamely to finish 8th. He ran off a 6lb higher rating of 98 last year and looks well in today as on top of the 6lbs lower rating his jockey Callum Hutchinson claims off another 5lbs. Ropey Guest carries 8-3, arrives here in cracking form and is drawn close enough to the likely pace horse Cruyff Turn in stall 10.
Newmarket – 3:50
0.5 point each way Rhoscolyn 10/1 Paddy Power & Bet365, both paying 6 places.
0.5 point each way Ropey Guest 14/1 Bet365 & Paddy Power 6 places.
Compare Odds at https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/newmarket/15:50/winner
