Wise Approach in pole position to take unexpected Middle Park chance

The stars could have aligned for Wise Approach to make his mark at the highest level, as he looks to give Charlie Appleby back-to-back victories in the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The son of Mehmas has gone close in both the Norfolk Stakes and his first try in Group One company in the Prix Morny, but in between those fine efforts in defeat was an impressive victory in Newbury’s Rose Bowl Stakes.

And with the ground on the Rowley Mile drier than anticipated at this stage of the season, it is only the colt’s susceptibility to the undulating nature of the track that is giving the Moulton Paddocks handler cause for concern.

Appleby said: “He’s in great nick. I didn’t really think we’d be participating on Saturday because I thought ground conditions would go against him and he is a horse that I feel wants quick ground.

“The only negative I can give is the track. I do feel he’s a very slick horse and that was why I was keen for him to take his chance in the Prix Morny, I felt conditions there would suit him and the track would suit him.

“We’ll always use the dip here as an excuse and I did think about bringing him up here and giving him a gallop, but I just felt we might treat him with the element of surprise on Saturday.

“He’s in great order, the ground is tightening up and I think if he produces anything like he did in the Prix Morny he’s going to be hard to beat.”

Aidan O’Brien saddles Flying Childers second Kansas, Brussels and First Approach, but it is his son Joseph O’Brien who looks to have the stronger claims with once-raced The Publican’s Son, who is chanced at the top table after a pleasing debut in Group Three company at the Curragh.

O’Brien said: “He made a very good debut and after he pulled up well after that race we felt this was a race we could target with him.

“He’s had a good preparation and obviously it’s a huge jump up on just his second start, but we’re looking forward to seeing how he competes at this level.

“It’s a big ask, obviously, but he’s very fast and we feel he is potentially one who can cope with that jump. He debuted in a Group Three and we think it’s a good next step for him.”

Also moving into deep waters is George Boughey’s Hilitany, who has impressed in winning minor events at Windsor in taking fashion.

“He won both his maiden and novice by a wide margin, so he’s obviously a talented colt and we just want to roll the dice and see where we stand with him,” explained Chris Wall, racing manager for owners Victorious Forever.

“He deserves his chance, it’s open at that level and distance, so we may as well give it a go.

“George has him in good form, he did a nice piece of work on the racecourse last Saturday which gave him some handy experience of the track which he handled well and everyone came away happy. So we’re hoping for a good performance at the weekend.”

In contrast Coppull has already proven himself in Group company, having placed in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and won the Richmond at Goodwood before taking on some of the best around at this distance in the Morny.

The son of Bated Breath failed to land a blow in Deauville, but trainer Clive Cox is happy he had valid excuses on that occasion and feels his charge is in rude health ahead of his second Group One assignment.

Cox said: “I was very pleased with his win in the Richmond and then he was drawn on the wing when he went to France for the Morny, but I would be hopeful we’ve got more of a positive position here.

“He’s got a nice middle draw in five and I would hope he would have a competitive chance.

“It was very fast in France and we were stuck on a wing and it just didn’t work out at all. But I think travelling in extreme heat on that occasion didn’t help also.

“He’s pleased me in the last couple of weeks which has given me confidence and hopefully the ground will be nice for him as well. It was very fast in France and we were stuck on a wing and it just didn’t work out at all.”

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Royal Ascot winner Havana Hurricane was not too far behind Coppull when third at Goodwood on his penultimate start and along with Andrew Balding’s Sirenia Stakes scorer Five Ways completes a field of nine.