YORK

THE 58th John Smith’s Cup at York looked a fiendishly difficult affair and it was surprising they went no great pace early on. This may well have suited Sir Michael Stoute’s Ballet Concerto, who picked up really well for James Doyle in the final furlong to master Big Country and outsider Mistiroc by three-parts and a neck.

They were followed by UAE Prince and Richard Fahey’s Garcia, the latter running a blinder after a 10-month absence and looking every inch a big handicap winner in waiting. That takes nothing away from Ballet Concerto, who appreciated the 10-furlong-plus trip, given the way the race was run.

“It’s always quite a rough race but he travelled supremely well and quickened just enough to put it to bed,” Doyle said. This was the icing on the cake for the jockey who has had a splendid week following his narrow defeat in the Coral-Eclipse.

Rare Rhythm too good for Barsanti

ON a day packed with high-class, ultra-competitive racing, many had Roger Varian’s Barsanti down as a banker in the Listed John Smith’s Silver Cup over a mile and three-quarters. He started at even money but had no answer to the Doyle-ridden and Godolphin-owned Rare Rhythm in the closing stages, who looked smart indeed.

Rare Rhythm, 9/4, had won the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot after 12 months off and improved again, moving through to lead against the far rails three furlongs from home. Barsanti was travelling just as well but could never get to the front and rider Andrea Atzeni accepted the situation.

The winner is a lightly-raced five-year-old and has clearly had his problems but, on this evidence, he will stay further and may well make up into a Cup horse for Charlie Appleby.

Evergreen Take Cover battles back

TAKE Cover has been showing tremendous speed over five furlongs for so long and there is no sign of him crying enough yet. David Griffiths’s 10-year-old star not only took the field along in the Listed City Walls Stakes but fought like a tiger for David Allan when Final Venture drew alongside and outpointed him by three-parts of a length.

“He’s as good as ever,” Griffiths enthused. “He’ll go to Goodwood for the King George Stakes and then maybe come back here for the Nunthorpe.”