John Smith's Cup favourite gets the green light for Knavesmire return

John Smith’s Cup favourite Archivist booked his place for Saturday’s big handicap at York when enjoying a gentle exercise on the Al Bahathri Polytrack on Tuesday under former jump jockey Andrew Tinkler. 

Archivist and Andrew Tinker

A winner on the Knavesmire last time, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned chestnut had been at the forefront of the betting for a 1m2f handicap at Newmarket on Friday but connections have decided to head north for a race in which William Haggas could also run Arabian Force.

Watered gallop back in business

After being closed the previous day to allow the Jockey Club to prepare a new strip on what is known as the ‘extension’, the watered gallop reopened on Wednesday, when Roger Varian was knocking at the door as usual at 6am. 

Sallaal in command on the reopened watered gallop

You have to go back many years to recall when the 50m-wide regulated strip had run out of territory, which is indicative of little significant rain in West Suffolk since April. 

Varian had six workers over a mile and the standout was the classy Sallaal, who was a winner when last seen at Hamilton but missed Royal Ascot due to the quick ground. The son of Frankel is on his way back to Hamilton on Friday week for a possible crack at the Listed Glasgow Stakes, a race the trainer won with Defoe in 2017.

Boughey hitting it out of the park 

George Boughey is already on the team sheet for the annual match between Newmarket Cricket Club and a Racing & Trainers XI at Dullingham on Sunday, and the trainer had some smart juveniles opening the batting on the Cambridge Road Polytrack on Tuesday. 

George Boughey watches his string walk by on Warren Hill Newmarket Pic: Edward WhitakerCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Billy Loughnane was aboard recent Windsor scorer Amorim, booked for the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury on Friday week. The grey mixed it with the consistent Moonfall, who's entered in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, as well as the maiden Hey True Blu, who runs at Doncaster on Thursday.

 Kieran Shoemark's new link-up 

Kieran Shoemark was spotted among the Simon and Ed Crisford ranks for the first time on Tuesday morning, when he dropped in to give a two-year-old colt by Blue Point a spin on the Cambridge Road Polytrack. 

Kieran Shoemark: spotted among the Simon and Ed Crisford ranksCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Jack Mitchell, Aidan Keeley and Harry Davies were also among the Gainsborough team, who worked one-time Classic hope Treble Tee. He has been gelded since disappointing on his first two starts as a three-year-old.

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