8 July

TRIP TO SUIT FOR HAND OF GOD IN £200,000 JOHN SMITH’S CUP

HARRY Charlton is ready to bring Hand Of God back in distance at York for the John Smith’s Cup – one of British racing’s most coveted handicap prizes.

The £200,000 race is invariably a strongly-run affair, over an extended mile and a quarter on the Knavesmire.

Connections believe those conditions should be ideal for Hand Of God, who flattened out under jockey William Buick, when finishing sixth of 18 over a mile and a half in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot last month.   

Beckhampton trainer Charlton said: “William got off him at Ascot and just said, ‘He’s run great, I’ve come there two down like I’m going to win but he hasn’t stayed – get back to ten furlongs.’ So, this was the obvious next step on a nice galloping track over ten.”

Hand Of God won over the trip in the Golden Gates Handicap back in June 2024 and has been lightly campaigned since.

His next run was in a nine-furlong handicap at Newmarket in May 2025 before he lined up at Royal Ascot on June 20.

Charlton said: “I think he wasn’t quite ready for Newmarket when he ran. He was ready for Ascot – obviously, we were just running at the wrong trip. So, I’m hoping it lands nicely for him at York on Saturday.

“He’s not needed to do too much (since Ascot) because it’s only a 22-day gap, but he seems in good form.”

With a busy programme of racing up and down the country this Saturday, Charlton is not able to call on Buick for Hand Of God this time.

He said: “I think at the moment it looks like Danny Tudhope will ride him.”

Of the 26 horses that stood their ground at latest entry stage on Monday, William Haggas looks to have the strongest hand.

The Newmarket-based trainer, who has won the prestigious race on no less than three occasions, could be represented by Archivist, Arabian Force and The King’s Falcon.

York’s latest two-day fixture will commence at 2.10pm on Friday with a seven-race card in which the feature is the Group 3 William Hill Summer Stakes.

Saturday’s action gets underway at 2pm and alongside the John Smith’s Cup are both the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup and Listed City Walls sprint.