Graeme Rodway trusts Jim Crowley to make right choice in the Bunbury Cup

4.10 Newmarket (July)
Bet365 Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) | 7f | Class 2 | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Last week’s Investec Derby highlighted how jockey bookings can be misleading when Ballydoyle send out several runners in the big one.

It was Serpentine and Emmet McNamara who became the third Aidan O’Brien-trained winner of the race in five years to be partnered by someone other than stable jockey Ryan Moore, after Padriag Beggy won on Wings Of Eagles in 2017 and Seamie Heffernan took the prize on Anthony Van Dyck last year.

However, when it comes to Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned runners the story is completely different and that was in evidence at Royal Ascot this year when retained jockey Jim Crowley booted home six winners, all for his retained owner, without any other rider getting a look in.

Sheikh Hamdan owns two leading contenders for this year’s bet365 Bunbury Cup in the shape of Motakhayyel and Mutamaasik and they finished first and third in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot last time when partnered by Crowley and Dane O’Neill.

Crowley and O’Neill have long been the first and second choice jockeys for the sheikh’s runners and they led home four owned by the owner in that contest, despite Frankie Dettori partnering warm 7-2 favourite Daarik, who trailed in last of the owner’s runners.

In the four races in which the sheikh had more than one runner at this year’s Royal Ascot, Crowley picked the right one on three occasions and the fact the he has stuck with Motakhayyel is a significant pointer to his chance of confirming places with the Ryan Moore-ridden Mutamaasik. The fact Dane O’Neill is at Ascot instead may also be a tip too.

So if we conclude Crowley will have made the right choice on Motakhayyel at the top of the market, which of those further down the list might be able to shake up the sheikh's pair?

Roger Varian, who saddles Mutamaasik, might have a better chance with Spanish City. He is back for a third crack at the race having finished second in 2018 and fourth last year.

Those efforts came off marks of 91 and 96, so he will probably need a career best to win off a 3lb higher mark of 99, and soft ground also poses a question mark.

However, this race evidently suits and his course form on both Newmarket tracks is strong. He has yet to win on either, but is certainly due a change of luck after recording form figures reading 4234622.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

30 years on

Frankie Dettori first won the Bunbury Cup 30 years ago on Fedoria for the late Michael Jarvis and is out to win it for the fifth time with Vale Of Kent, who he steered to glory from a few of these 12 months ago.

If successful, the topweight would be the first horse since Mine (2005 and 2006) to win back-to-back runnings of the cavalry charge which this year is run as the finale of the July festival.

The Italian jockey also won the seven furlong contest on St Moritz , for Vale Of Kent's trainer Mark Johnston, in 2010 and Golden Steps in 2016.

Recalling that first triumph, Dettori said: "I remember Fedoria very well as my great friend Bruce Raymond used to ride him regularly but couldn't do the weight and he stuck me in for the ride.

Vale Of Kent: wins the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket under Frankie DettoriCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He only had 8st3lb as I remember and was well fancied. I think he was second favourite or something like that and it was a big deal in those days as the Bunbury Cup was one of the big betting races of the year."

As to his chances of a fifth victory and a repeat success on Vale Of Kent, Dettori added: "He has a lot of weight to carry this year but Mark Johnston's horses are flying form so you can never rule them out.

"I love the horse as he always gives his best and I'm sure he'll put up his usual good account."

What They Say

Jamie Osborne, trainer of Raising Sand
Hopefully it doesn't dry up as he's better with his toe in and he ran a great race on his comeback at Ascot when he won on the far side. That was on ground quicker than he likes and he has every chance here, although he is off a career-high mark.

Oisin Murphy, rider of Sir Busker
He won the Silver Hunt Cup in good style and is not ground dependant. He has the gears for this drop back in trip and William Knight's horses are flying.

Roger Varian, trainer of Mutamaasik and Spanish City
Both could do with the ground drying out a bit. Mutamaasik has a big chance as he raced alone from the two pole at Royal Ascot and did well to finish third. Spanish City has been placed in this the last two years and has a big one in him.

Spanish City (left): looking for turn in fortunes at NewmarketCredit: John Grossick

Chris Dixon, part-owner of Kasbaan
We were happy with his reappearance run and he's come on for that. It's a competitive race and the ground is a concern but we're likely to take our chance.

David Elsworth, trainer of No Nonsense
He's come on for his last run at Royal Ascot and should appreciate the step up in trip. We're mildly optimistic.

Richard Spencer, trainer of Keyser Soze
He's been fluffing the start a bit recently so we've done some stalls work with him and hopefully he's over that. Cieren Fallon takes off a handy 3lb and he's back down to a competitive mark, although the ground is a concern.

John Gosden, trainer of Godhead
He's done all his running on the all-weather until now but we thought we would try him on turf with some give in it.

William Jarvis, trainer of Arigato
We hoped to sneak into the race after his latest win on the Rowley Mile where he went through the soft ground, although I think he's better on a sounder surface. He needs a career best as he's gone up 13lb this season but he enjoys both Newmarket tracks.

Joe Tuite, trainer of Kimifive
The ground could do to dry out a bit for him but I feel he has one of these big races in him. We're happy with the draw as the jockey can go where he wants from stall ten.
Reporting by David Milnes

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com