2.10 York Results: Secret Retreat Springs 33-1 Surprise
1. Secret Highway 33-1, 2. Harry’s Girls 15-8, 3. Love Olivia 2-1.
Constitutional Hill Scratched from the Ascot Gold Cup
This week, many owners and trainers are hoping their horses will perform well enough to get a spot at Royal Ascot, but one notable horse that won’t be making that trip is Constitutional Hill, the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner. He has been removed from consideration for the Gold Cup, set for June 19.
Although Constitutional Hill was undefeated in his first ten races and regarded as one of the greatest hurdlers, his form has declined since mid-March, marked by two falls at Cheltenham and Aintree, followed by a disappointing showing at Punchestown earlier this month.
Initially, his entry into the Gold Cup was a bit of a surprise, and now, at eight years old, he’ll take a break for the summer, with plans to return to the hurdles in the autumn.
Preamble
Good afternoon from Knavesmire. After two days featuring the Epsom Classic trials, attention has now shifted to the stayers, specifically Rebel’s Romance, arguably one of the least appreciated horses among British racing fans, as he steps beyond a mile-and-a-half for the first time.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, this seven-year-old is a significant figure in global racing history, boasting over £10 million in earnings. His 16 victories from 24 starts include wins in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Sheema Classic at Meydan, among several prestigious accomplishments.
It’s worth noting, though, that most of his wins occurred abroad, with only one Group-race win in the UK, specifically a Group Three at Goodwood in July 2022. Today, he’s favored in the Group Two Yorkshire Cup, despite some uncertainty regarding the 14-furlong distance. A strong performance could present new opportunities for Appleby’s seasoned contender.
The race today should be competitive, with all five runners priced in single digits. Continuous, the 2023 St Leger winner; Epic Poet, who finished third in a Grade One race last time; and Sweet William, who was runner-up to Kyprios in last year’s Goodwood Cup, are all in contention to win, depending on Rebel’s Romance’s endurance.
The Knavesmire track conditions remain good to firm, and racing is underway with the Marygate Fillies’ Stakes, a sort of trial for the Queen Mary Stakes coming up at Royal Ascot next month.
