Fresh from saddling Dash Of Spice to become the 16th Royal Ascot winner of his long career, trainer David Elsworth is hoping for another big race success when he runs Sir Dancealot in the Group 3 Betway Criterion Stakes at Newmarket’s Adnams July Course on Saturday (30th June).
Sir Dancealot was also in action at the Royal Meeting, staying on into seventh place behind Merchant Navy in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes last Saturday. He now returns to his ideal trip of seven furlongs in an intriguing race where official handicap ratings have the top six members of a seven-runner field rated within 2lbs of one another.
Sir Dancealot was in fine form prior to that Ascot outing, with back-to-back placed efforts in the Group 3 Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes and the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes preceding a victory in a valuable conditions race at Hamilton.
He also proved his liking for Saturday’s course and distance when beating all except Above The Rest in last year’s bet365 Bunbury Cup.
His opponents are led by the four-time Pattern Race scorer, Dutch Connection, and the two horses that finished just in front of fourth-placed Dutch Connection in the Group 3 Betway John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock Park three weeks ago – David O’Meara’s Larchmont Lad and the Richard Hannon-trained Tabarrak.
Other leading contenders are a second O’Meara inmate, So Beloved, and the only three-year-old in the field, Lake Volta, runaway winner in Listed company at Epsom on Oaks Day.
David Elsworth, trainer of Sir Dancealot, said:
“The Betway Criterion Stakes is a very competitive race with the ratings of the top horses all very close, but I am optimistic about Sir Dancealot’s chances.”
“He is back to his strongest distance after taking on some formidable opposition – arguably the world’s best sprinters - in the Diamond Jubilee. He was only beaten five lengths there and if that race had been over seven furlongs he would have been right on top of the leaders at the finish.”
“He showed that he is suited by the seven furlongs of the July Course in last year’s Bunbury Cup and he handles this fast ground, which they do a very good job preparing.”
“He’s a gelding and takes his racing pretty well these days. He’s a very fit horse and I would hope that you will see the same horse on Saturday that you saw last week.”
“He likes a strong pace as he likes to do his running in the second half of the race.”
Alan Alger, PR Manager, Betway, said:
“James Doyle, having won this race last year on Home Of The Brave, takes the ride on Dutch Connection. Godolphin’s six-year-old has been installed as our 3/1 favourite with the form of his fourth-placed run in May’s Lockinge Stakes working out very well.”
“Sir Dancealot will be popular having outrun his price in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot last week, he’s currently a 4/1 chance.”
The sponsor’s latest prices on the Betway Criterion Stakes, run over seven furlongs of Newmarket’s Adnams July Course on Saturday, 30th June are as follows:
3 Dutch Connection, 4 Sir Dancealot, Tabarrak, 9-2 Larchmont Lad, 6 So Beloved, 10 Lake Volta, 12 Mankib.
Place betting terms: one quarter the odds for the first two places.
