Saddler’s Rock set to be added to Cup on Monday

Saddler’s Rock wins the Stobart Doncaster Cup.  Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The rapidly improving stayer Saddler’s Rock, who inflicted a four length defeat on Opinion Poll in the Stobart Doncaster Cup last month, is set to be supplemented for the £200,000 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, the opening race on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 15 October.

“We’ll work him on Monday morning and if the horse pleases us and the weather forecast is favourable, it is our intention to supplement him,” said trainer John Oxx last night.

“It’s unfortunate we didn’t enter him at the time, but he’s improved a great deal since then and I would think he’d be nearly favourite on the day. He wouldn’t want it soft though.”

It will cost the three-year-olds connections £18,000 to make a supplementary entry on Monday morning.

Another trainer hoping for the current dry spell to continue is John Dunlop, who plans to saddle the recent Newmarket Listed race winner, Times Up, in the race.

The five-year-old was tackling two miles, the distance of the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, for the first time in that Newmarket contest which he won easily.

“He’s in very good order, but we want the ground to stay dry,” said Dunlop at Tattersalls Sales last night.

“He certainly liked the two miles here the other day and though he’ll be stepping up in class, I couldn’t be happier with him at the moment.”

Another horse confirmed today for Britain’s richest ever raceday is Meeznah, impressive winner of the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster on her latest start – she will contest the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.

"She worked very well (on Wednesday morning) over a mile and all going well the plan is for her to go to Ascot for the fillies’ race on Champions Day," said her trainer, David Lanigan.

"Our filly has done everything right and the owners were keen to run over a mile and a half.

"We’ve talked about the Breeders’ Cup but the Filly And Mare Turf is over a mile and three (furlongs), and that might be a bit short.

"We’re just taking it one step at a time at the moment, but hopefully we’ll get her to Ascot if they get good ground.

"There isn’t too much rain forecast I don’t think, so it should be all right."

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