Barney Roy heads Godolphin trio on day one of York’s Ebor Festival

Sport360 staff 20:55 21/08/2017
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  • Godolphin has three runners on Wednesday, the first day of the Ebor Festival at York, UK, headed by Barney Roy (Richard Hannon/James Doyle) in the G1 Juddmonte International over an extended 10 furlongs.

    Barney Roy was last seen out when the excellent nose runner-up to Ulysses in the G1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on July 8, when attempting 10 furlongs for the first time.

    The three-year-old colt had previously been campaigned at shorter distances, decisively winning the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot on June 20 by a length and finishing the length runner-up to Churchill in G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6.

    He began 2017 with a two-length victory in the G3 Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury on April 22.

    Trainer Richard Hannon commented: “I think York will suit Barney Roy because it is flat and the course will give him plenty of time to get going with his long stride.

    “I’d love it if he was the type to go and win by four lengths but he’s not that sort of colt. He always makes it look like he’s struggling but the quicker they go, the quicker he goes.

    “He keeps finding and is probably the best horse I’ve trained.”

    James Doyle added: “Barney Roy ran a fantastic race in the Eclipse but my worry beforehand – him being an inexperienced horse on that track – was probably about right.

    “Sandown is a very tough track, especially against older horses. York will be much more to his liking and you will see a better performance there from him.”

    Ulysses and Churchill feature among Barney Roy’s six opponents in the Juddmonte International, along with G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Decorated Knight and Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher.

    Atty Persse (Roger Charlton/James Doyle) lines up in the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes over just short of a mile and a half.

    The three-year-old’s most recent start saw him fade to ninth in the G3 Bahrain Trophy over 13 furlongs at Newmarket on July 13.

    Prior to that, he posted an impressive three-length success in the King George V Handicap over a mile and a half at Royal Ascot on June 22 and began his 2017 campaign with victory in a mile handicap at Sandown Park on April 28.

    Trainer Roger Charlton said: “I am happy with Atty Persse’s work and he is looking extremely well.

    “I would think he needs to find three or four lengths on the principals in the race to be in with a chance, but he goes to York in good form.

    “I think the course and the ground will suit him. Nothing came to light after his run at Newmarket last time – we just have to put a line through it.”

    The eight runners for the Great Voltigeur Stakes include G1 Irish Derby second Cracksman and G1 Grand Prix de Paris third Venice Beach.

    Penglai Pavilion (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle) runs in a handicap over an extended two miles on the same card.

    The seven-year-old is making his first British start of 2017, having last run when the staying-on seventh, beaten eight lengths, in the G1 Sydney Cup over two miles at Randwick, Australia, on April 22.

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