Ground crucial for Defiance’s John Smith’s Cup bid

Leading John Smith’s Cup fancy Defiance will only run at York on Saturday if there is sufficient cut in the ground.

The Roger Varian-trained four-year-old missed the second half of last season after successive runs on fast ground at Lingfield and York and he will not be asked to race on quick surfaces in the future.

“He’s a lovely horse who had his problems last year, he got very jarred up in the Lingfield Derby Trial and we couldn’t really get him back,” said Harry Herbert of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, who own the gelding.

“We had to give him a lot of time and he’s come back this year in really good shape, had a run at Epsom where he could have been a bit closer but he was just caught too far back.

“I think he’s come on again for that run according to Roger, but we will take a look at the ground. If it’s rattling quick we won’t run and will wait until Goodwood. It looks like it is going to be hot up there but we’ll see where we are the day before.

“It will be Roger’s call but the horse is in great form, he looks fantastic and he’s well thought of. We’ve not seen anything like the best of this horse yet, so it will be disappointing if he can’t run as this has been his target for such a long time.”

Karl Burke’s course-and-distance winner Thunder Run has been left at the head of the weights following a host of withdrawals at the five-day stage, which included ante-post favourite Burrito.

William Haggas’ Archivist sits alongside Defiance in the new market with Arabian Force, See That Storm, Hand Of God and Naqeeb others in the mix