July clash with Scenic not ruled out for Fleeting

FLEETING SPIRIT has not been ruled out of a rematch with Scenic Blast in Friday's Darley July Cup and will be left in the Group 1 event at the confirmation stage at noon on Saturday.

The daughter of Invincible Spirit was purposely prepared to make her reappearance in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last month and was beaten only three quarters of a length by the crack Australian speedster.

Fleeting Spirit worked well on the watered gallop in Newmarket in mid week and, although the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York on August 21 had been cited as her next target, her trainer will give Friday's event serious consideration.

Jeremy Noseda said: "We will work her in the next couple of days and we will go from there."

25-1 shot War Artist will not run in the Group 1 as trainer James Eustace favours a trip to Newbury the following week.

The six-year-old has been off the track since finishing a close-up third in last year's renewal and was forced to miss an intended engagement in last month's Chipchase Stakes due to unsuitable ground.

"He's absolutely fine and worked very well this morning," said the trainer, adding: "After Newcastle was a no-go, because of the ground, it left us in a dilemma whether to go for the July Cup or not.

"We just thought using that race as a first run of the season would be harsh on the horse. The Hackwood Stakes is luckily only eight days later (July 18) so we're going to go there instead.

"Even though it is a year since he ran you would like to think he would be classy enough to win that without being fully fit. He is working nicely, in fact, I couldn't be more pleased with him."

At the six-day stage 14 horses remain in the field for the 6f Group 1 on Friday.