Nunthorpe hero Alpha Delphini 'in great form' and set for York return on July 18

Former Nunthorpe Stakes winner Alpha Delphini is set to return to the scene of his biggest triumph as he comes back from more than a year on the sidelines.

Alpha Delphini stunned racegoers when he pulled off a 40-1 shock in the Group 1 sprint at York in 2018, pipping Mabs Cross by a nose after a desperately tight finish that took the judge nearly ten minutes to decide.

Relive Alpha Delphini's shock Nunthorpe Stakes triumph

Bryan Smart's stable star looked set for another successful season when chasing home the top-class Battaash in the Temple Stakes at Haydock in May of last year, only to be forced on to the sidelines after stretching the ligaments at the top of a tendon while being prepared for Royal Ascot.

Alpha Delphini is now reported to have made a full recovery and is being aimed at the John Smith's City Walls Stakes back at York on July 18, in which the nine-year-old would escape any penalty as his last win came before 2019.

Smart said: "He went brilliant last Friday, he went brilliant on Tuesday. He'll probably go and have a little gallop somewhere and then I hope he'll run at York in the City Walls Stakes.

"He's come through his pieces of work. He's worked a little bit lazily but he does that so I'm not worried and he's in great form."

Asked if he thought the sprinter retained his ability, Smart said: "It looks like it's still there so we're over the moon."

Alpha Delphini may be nine but he did not win his first race until he was four and he comes from a family renowned for longevity as his Group 1-winning half-brother Tangerine Trees had his final success at the age of 11.

More to read:

A pixel in it: Alpha Delphini edges Mabs in superb finish as Battaash flops

Nunthorpe hero Alpha Delphini ruled out for the season after setback

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