Blue Point 'in the form of his life' as Appleby targets Diamond Jubilee Stakes

Blue Point will attempt a rare King's Stand and Diamond Jubilee double after Tuesday's winner featured among the declarations for Saturday's Group 1 over six furlongs at Royal Ascot.

The Godolphin star defeated Battaash to claim back-to-back wins in the five-furlong sprint and is joined in the 18-strong line-up by Le Brivido, who also featured on the opening day when fifth in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Blue Point, said: "It was in the back of our minds and he was always going to be left in the two races so if he were to win the option would be there.

"Immediately after the race everybody posed the question of what you're going to do, but when you're dealing with livestock you won't know until the following morning what condition they're in so we didn't put it out there.

"We were pleased with the way the horse has taken the race, we spoke about it at length yesterday and added the pros and cons. Blue Point seems to turn his A-game on at Ascot, he's held the track record over six furlongs there and he seems to be in the form of his life.

"He's only got two more opportunities to run at Ascot this season before he retires at the end of the year and it was either this or wait for Champions Day when he could be taking on testing conditions.

"The way the forecast is, it's going to be drying out nicely towards Saturday. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed is very sporting and he felt the horse deserved to take his chance."

Le Brivido is seeking his first win since scoring in the Jersey Stakes at the royal meeting in 2017, and O'Brien said: "He ran well in the Queen Anne on Tuesday and wasn't beaten all that far but we feel he might be better over six or seven. He seems to have come out of the race on Tuesday in good shape and we're going to let him take his chance on Saturday."

Inns Of Court, who was a general 5-1 chance, was not declared but favourite Invincible Army takes his chance. The Tin Man, Bound For Nowhere, Sands Of Mali, Kachy and last season's runner-up City Of Light also feature.

Masar: another high-profile Godolphin runner on Saturday's cardCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Godolphin will also be represented by last year's Derby hero Masar in the Hardwicke Stakes. The four-year-old has not been seen since his Epsom triumph, and takes on eight rivals on his seasonal return.

Coronation Cup winner Defoe, Southern France, Salouen and Lah Ti Dar feature in the Group 2, but Ghaiyyath, who was a 9-2 chance, will not take his chance.

Last season's winner Bacchus heads the weights for the Wokingham Stakes and Recon Mission, a winner at York last weekend, gets in at the bottom of the weights. Sir Maximilian is the first reserve.

In the Queen Alexandra Stakes, Grade 1 winning chaser Black Corton has been declared for the staying contest with Megan Nicholls set to take the ride for her father Paul.

A field of 17 will feature in the opening Chesham Stakes on Saturday, while 18 run in the Jersey Stakes.

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