David Menuisier following familiar route with 'very exciting' Blue Cup

2.40 York
Matchbook "Best Value" Exchange Handicap | 1m2½f | 4yo+ | RTV/ITV4

Trainers are creatures of habit. If one route is tried and tested, in all likelihood they will take the same steps again and again. David Menuisier is the case in point this time.

Back in 2017, he won a 1m2f handicap at Sandown with then four-year-old Thundering Blue. The crowd-favourite had one more start that term and returned with an unlucky fifth-placed finish in the City And Suburban Handicap at Epsom, before bolting up in this race as the 3-1 favourite. He went on to finish second in Group 1 company.

Three years on and Menuisier is adopting the same approach with Blue Cup – you have to believe he thinks they're similar types. The French import hacked up by five lengths in a 1m2f handicap at Sandown on just his second start for the yard last term, and suffered a troublesome passage to take fifth in the City And Suburban last time.

A clean run through and Blue Cup may have won that day, but it may be a blessing in disguise that he can still run off 93 – the same mark as Thundering Blue in 2018 – in this York handicap. You won't be getting 3-1, though, as he's been a talking horse all week and was as short as 9-4 at the time of writing.

Thundering Blue winning at York's Dante meeting three years agoCredit: Mark Cranham

His main dangers come in the shape of Irish Admiral and Satono Japan, who have shown their best form on the all-weather. Both hail from leading Newmarket yards that do well on the Knavesmire, though the worry about whether they will translate their form to turf might be enough to just watch with interest for future conquests.

Course runner-up Fishable deserves a second look with cheekpieces fitted, while the Group 2-placed Khagan, who has recently undergone a gelding operation, shouldn't be overlooked at a big price on his first start for trainer David O'Meara.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

'He was unlucky not to win last time'

David Menuisier has already been on the mark at the Dante meeting this week and he has high hopes of another big run from Blue Cup.

Stablemate Flyin' Solo went off favourite when scoring here on Wednesday, and Blue Cup is another popular choice thanks to last month's eye-catching fifth at Epsom where he got no sort of run in the final furlong yet was still beaten little over two lengths.

Menuisier said: "Debatably he was unlucky not to win last time at Epsom and he runs off the same mark so I would be extremely hopeful.

"He was a bit keen the other day but in his defence he hadn't run for a fair while and that should make him settle better this time. Then it's for William Buick to keep him out of trouble – and hopefully win!"

The last five-year-old grey to carry 9st in this race for his trainer was Thundering Blue, who won it in 2018 and returned to finish second in the John Smith’s Cup, win again later in July then grab third in the Juddmonte International.

David Menuisier, trainer of Blue Cup: 'it's for William Buick to keep him out of trouble – and hopefully win!'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"I think Blue Cup is a very talented horse," Menuisier said. "Whether he will reach the same heights no-one can know but the idea of going to York this week is to perhaps have a go at the John Smith's Cup later on. He's a very exciting horse."

What they say

David O'Meara, trainer of Khagan
We've had him a couple of months, he seems straight enough and we need to know where we stand with him.

William Haggas, trainer of Irish Admiral
He's a nice horse and he could improve but he's plenty high enough for what he did at Wolverhampton. The second has been run over in a handicap but the handicapper's not prepared to do anything about it so I've got no choice but to run.

Tim Easterby, trainer of Fishable & Sameem
They're both nice horses and working well. Fishable ran a very good first race at Ripon and I expect him to run well. Sameem is having his first run for us so we'll see what happens.

Joseph Tuite, trainer of Surrey Pride
He's had a good winter, he's in superb form and I'm very much looking forward to getting him back out. The ground will be beautiful and I don't see any reason why he can't win first time out.

Roger Charlton, trainer of Makram
He had no luck in running at Newmarket last time and was not suited to the track. He's going beyond a mile for the first time but he's in good order.
Reporting by David Carr

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