Bated Breath (pink cap): July Cup participation rests on owner's decision
PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)Cup decision to be made on Saturday - Charlton
TRAINER Roger Charlton said on Friday that owner Khalid Abdullah will have the final say on the participation of Darley July Cup favourite Bated Breath on Saturday morning.
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Charlton has issued concerns about soft ground for his King's Stand Stakes second and said Abdullah will decide if the general 4-1 favourite will take his place in the field for the Group 1 sprint on Saturday.
Bated Breath, who might otherwise have to wait for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, is due to face 14 rivals on Saturday and Charlton said: "He is favourite for a Group 1 and my inclination is to let him take his chance because York could be as bad but we will have to wait until tomorrow.
"Like most horses he would prefer faster ground. He has run on soft ground before and won well. It's just not to his advantage.
Roger Charlton: will let owner Khalid Abdullah make the decision
PICTURE: Mark Cranham"The horse is not going to come to any harm running on the ground - that's not the issue - it's just he may not produce his best and I guess when a horse is about to be a stallion, you wonder whether that's sensible or not."
Strong Suit, who was supplemented by connections at the start of the week, may also miss the £400,000 contest because of the ground, which is likely to remain soft despite a threat of overnight rain.
Clerk of the course Michael Prosser said: "The track has taken all the rain that we had well and we have been very lucky that it has been dry today.
"I am loathe to change the ground until the morning as there is a threat of showers overnight. Saturday's forecast is for a warmer day with sunny breaks and showers."
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