Orazio, the beaten favourite in two of the summer’s biggest six-furlong handicaps, seems sure to start as the clear market leader for a third after Juan Les Pins was ruled out of Saturday’s Ayr Gold Cup on Friday due to concerns about softening ground at the Scottish course.
Mick Appleby’s gelding was joint-favourite with several layers on Friday morning but has never shown his best form with cut in the ground. In his absence, punters are likely to bank on Orazio to improve on his efforts when 7-2 favourite for the Wokingham in June and a 100-30 shot for the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.
