Charlton expects York trip to suit Hand Of God

Harry Charlton is keen to heed the advice of William Buick, as he drops Hand Of God back in distance for a shot at York’s ultra-competitive £200,000 John Smith’s Cup on Saturday.

The smart four-year-old excelled over 10 furlongs when striking in the Golden Gates Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and remains lightly raced having been seen just twice since.

He stepped up to a mile and a half when a respectable sixth in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at the latest Royal meeting, but will now swiftly return to a mile and a quarter after feedback from his Ascot rider Buick.

Charlton said: “William got off him at Ascot and just said ‘he’s run great, I’ve come there two down like I’m going to win but he hasn’t stayed – get back to 10 furlongs’. So, this was the obvious next step on a nice, galloping track over 10 furlongs.

“I think he wasn’t quite ready for his seasonal return at Newmarket when he ran. He was ready for Ascot obviously, but we were just running at the wrong trip. So, I’m hoping it lands nicely for him at York on Saturday.

“He’s not needed to do too much since Ascot because it’s only a 22-day gap, but he seems in good form.”