Ropey Guest, who finished runner-up to Biggles in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket on Saturday, looks set to bid for compensation in the £150,000 Moet & Chandon International Stakes at Ascot’s King George meeting.
The six-year-old – also second in the Bunbury Cup 12 months ago – could head to York thereafter, having been handed an entry in the £100,000 Sky Bet Mile Handicap on August 15.
Trainer George Margarson is happy that should he run at Ascot on Saturday week, it will be off the same official mark of 95.
“He’s in good nick. The handicapper kindly left him alone – he didn’t put him up or anything, so all being well he can go to the International,” said the Newmarket handler.
“It is a bit annoying the race comes so close this year, just two weeks, but he’s hard enough and don’t forget he raced at home, so he didn’t have any travelling to do the other day.
“He was back in his box and eating his tea in an hour. He has had a quiet couple of days, but he will soon pick up.”
Margarson was not surprised he had bounced back to near his best under Sean Levey following a disappointing run at Royal Ascot.
Tom Queally was aboard on that occasion when beaten almost nine lengths by Witch Hunter in the Buckingham Palace.
“The Buckingham Palace was a joke as they split into four groups. I said to Tom that he could have picked the right group! He needed to be covered up and didn’t have any luck.”
He added: “I’ve put him in the Sky Bet at York as well. That’s just short of a mile. It’s an easy mile and he has good form around there in the Acomb. We will have a look at that.”
