Globetrotter Marmelo out to impress on first British outing in over a year

3.00 York
Sky Bet Grand Cup Stakes | Listed | 1m6f | ITV4/RUK

Globetrotter Marmelo has his first domestic outing in over a year in this staying feature, which has attracted a strong mix of established and up-and-coming long-distance types.

Trainer Hughie Morrison is hoping for some morning rain on the Knavesmire for his five-year-old, who ran up to his very best when second to the classy Vazirabad in the Group 2 Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp last time.

Before that Marmelo acquitted himself well on the first of what could be a succession of trips down under last year which culminated in a decent ninth to Rekindling in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.

That form alone would be a different level to some of the opposition he faces here and Morrison is hoping to get the chance to show off his stable star, who will be partnered by Ryan Moore for the first time.

The trainer said: "This looks a good opportunity for Marmelo to show how good he is to the British public, but if the forecast rain doesn't arrive his participation would be in doubt. He ran a great race to be second to Vazirabad in France last time and I think that winner has a good shout in the Gold Cup."

He added: "If this goes to plan we would take him back to France for a Group 2 in which he finished second last year and then prepare him for another crack at the Melbourne Cup."

Something for the Weekender

Weekender will be a popular choice for coincidence punters having an outing on a Saturday and drops back in trip following his slightly disappointing third at Sandown last time.

Frankel himself did not stay beyond 1m2f but many of his offspring do, including this four-year-old who joined the staying ranks in style when scoring impressively over 1m6f at Chelmsford last month.

Weekender may not quite have got home over an extra quarter-mile when third to Magic Circle next time in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown but this represents a drop in class. Frankie Dettori rides.

Trainer John Gosden said: "We respect Marmelo greatly so we know what we're up against. Weekender may have found the trip a bit beyond him at Sandown but this should be more his distance and he's been in good form since."

Clever Cookie makes fourth appearance

Peter Niven is hoping for better luck with the veteran Clever Cookie – a two-time winner of this contest – than a year ago when things went wrong even before the now ten-year-old had got to the start.

He said: "There was thunder and lightning on the way to post and the old boy just bolted. By the time he eventually got to the start he's already run a marathon so it was no surprise he trailed in ninth."

Clever Cookie dead-heated in this in 2014 and won it a year later, and Niven added: "This year's race looks as strong as I can remember with Marmelo in there. I just hope they get some rain to help our fellow."

Formbook Study

Time To Study is out to turn around Sandown form with Weekender, to whom he finished one place adrift in fourth when running behind Magic Circle last time.

Trainer Mark Johnston has yet to win the staying contest but often has runners in it and his latest hope is back in trip after some solid efforts over further, including a fifth in the Chester Cup.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Abdulla Al Mansoori, said: "Time To Study is back in trip but we've put the blinkers on and any rain would help."

What they say

Andrew Balding, trainer of Duretto
He's a class horse on his day and has come on for his comeback run at Chester. Any rain beforehand would help him."

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