Appleby has no concerns over seven furlongs for Notable Speech

A deliberate decision to miss the Prix Jacques le Marois and wait for the Sky Bet City of York Stakes sees former 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech drop back to seven furlongs for the first time on the Knavesmire.

Charlie Appleby’s 2024 Classic winner has a CV adorned with Group One triumphs, most recently in the Lockinge Stakes in which he was so impressive, having ended last year with glory at the Breeders’ Cup.

He did, however, fail to fire at Ascot in the Queen Anne, not the first time he has disappointed there.

“Notable Speech heads to York in great shape. I would rather be drawn in stall one than out wide, while dropping back to seven furlongs doesn’t worry me at all,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.

“The one thing we will be keeping half an eye on is the weather as he is a quick ground horse. Good ground will be fine, but if there is any soft in the going, then there will have to be a question mark over him running.

“Hopefully, conditions will be fine and he can take his chance.”

Eve Johnson Houghton was denied the opportunity to bid for a Classic with Zavateri after he met with a setback following the Greenham Stakes, but last year’s National Stakes winner ran well in the Sussex at Goodwood on his comeback to show his ability is very much intact.

“He has worked (since Goodwood). He has done a good couple of bits of work and we’re really happy with him,” said Johnson Houghton. “For a (first) run back after a long break it was very pleasing indeed.

“I think we’re going into the second part of the season with a relatively fresh horse. I don’t know whether the setbacks in the spring were a blessing in disguise because it’s been frustrating to say the least.

“We beat Gstaad that day at the Curragh (National Stakes) and we finished four lengths behind him at Goodwood. But listen it was a very good run, I was very pleased with him.

“He was unlucky with the draw and unlucky with the run and definitely got a bump which, when you are on the comeback trail, definitely takes the wind out of your sails.”

A proven performer over seven furlongs is the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest, victorious in the Lennox Stakes over the trip before turning out the following day for the Sussex Stakes, where he was seventh to Bow Echo.

“He’s in great form and as long as it’s not proper soft, we’re keen to let him take his chance,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to Tony Bloom, who owns the money-spinning five-year-old with Ian McAleavy.

“It’s been dry for a long time so hopefully it won’t be too bad, but it will be riding slow and we think he shows his best form on quicker ground.

“He came up a bit short in the Sussex, but he did get stopped two or three times. I’m not saying he’d have won, but if he’d come up the middle of the track he probably would have had a clearer run.

“Things just conspired against us, but that’s Goodwood – one day everything goes in your favour and the next day it doesn’t.

“It’s a Group One and there’s no easy Group Ones, but hopefully he’ll run well.”

Representing local connections is Andrew Balding’s Marvelman, sixth in the Lennox and runner-up in the Chipchase Stakes before that.

Owner Charlie Bond, who saw the Bond Thoroughbred Ltd colours carried to victory on the opening afternoon with Air Force One, said: “We want more rain – I’ll be doing a rain dance! If we get rain, I’ll be super excited to see him.

“The last time he had his conditions he bolted up in a Group Two, which is the only time he’s had his conditions.”

A strong line-up sees Satono Reve as an intriguing runner for Japan. He is no stranger to action in top sprints in Britain, most latterly when third in the July Cup after missing out by an agonising nose to Almeraq in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Ed Walker will be hoping to have a touch more luck with Queen Anne winner Ten Bob Tony than he did with Almaqam on Wednesday, when he was just pegged back by Item in the Juddmonte International.

Smart sprinter Flora Of Bermuda has shown a definite liking for York and is another for Balding, representing Wathnan Racing who also run Chipchase victor Paborus (Ed Bethell).