Basem, Carry On Deryck & Gold Trail Bid For John Smith's Cup

Time/Date - 16.15hrs local time/Saturday, July 9, 2016
Racecourse/Country - York/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m 2f 88yds

Basem, Carry On Deryck and Gold Trail go for glory in one of the UK's most valuable heritage handicaps, the £200,000 57th John Smith's Cup, over an extended mile and a quarter at York, UK, on Saturday, July 9.

Basem (Saeed bin Suroor/Adam McNamara) failed to get competitive on his seasonal return in the Royal Hunt Cup over a mile at Royal Ascot on June 15, but the five-year-old was third on his only previous start at York in the nine-furlong G3 Strensall Stakes in August last year.

He also showed a high level of form in handicaps last season, winning a pair of mile races at Sandown Park and taking third in the Betfred Mile at Goodwood.

Carry On Deryck (Saeed bin Suroor/Paul Mulrennan) also steps up in trip after finishing ninth in the Royal Hunt Cup and the four-year-old started the year with a half-length success in a mile turf handicap at Meydan, UAE, in February.

Saeed bin Suroor reported: "Basem was slightly disappointing at Ascot where he seemed to be in need of the race. He has come back in good shape and York will suit.

"Carry On Deryck ran a career best at Royal Ascot. He is going to a mile and a quarter for the first time but seems in good form and the conditions should be suitable."

Five-year-old Gold Trail (Charlie Appleby/James McDonald), who makes his seasonal return, was a close fourth on his most recent outing in a Chester Listed handicap over an extended 13 furlongs in August, 2015.

He stayed on well to take a 12-furlong Newmarket handicap earlier the same month.

Charlie Appleby said: "Gold Trail was very consistent last year. This is his first run back but I have been pleased with his work at home."

Both trainers are also represented in the five-furlong Listed John Smith's City Walls Stakes (16.50hrs local time) by Pretend (Charlie Appleby/James McDonald) and Steady Pace (Saeed Bin Suroor/Frederik Tylicki)

All-Weather Listed winner Pretend returns to turf after coming home second on Tapeta in the G3 Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs at Newcastle on June 25, while G2 runner-up Steady Pace drops down in class and trip after disappointing over seven furlongs in the G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 15. They are drawn 10 and four respectively.

Charlie Appleby added: "I was impressed with Pretend's reappearance at Newcastle and he has come out of that race well. Returning to five furlongs shouldn't be a problem and, if he can win or run well, it opens up plenty of opportunities on the turf."

Saeed bin Suroor said: "Steady Pace is dropping back to five furlongs, where he can use his natural speed. If he runs well enough, sprinting could be where the future lies for him."

Francis Of Assisi (Charlie Appleby/James McDonald) returns to Listed level for the John Smith's Silver Cup (15.40hrs local time) over a mile and three quarters. The six-year-old captured a seven-furlong Listed race at Leopardstown, Ireland, in 2013 and returns to the Flat following a productive campaign over hurdles.

Charlie Appleby commented: "This is Francis Of Assisi's first run back on the Flat for a while. He has been working well but will definitely improve for the run."