Horse Racing: Harry Angel back in work and on course for Darley July Cup

Harry Angel is still on course for next week’s Darley July Cup after trainer Clive Cox gave an upbeat report on his star sprinter.

The favourite for the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot lost all chance at the start and returned with a puncture wound to his left hind leg after getting caught on the stalls as they opened.

But after initial fears he would be sidelined from the Group 1 summer showpiece, the Lambourn trainer has been happy with his progress and has not ruled out a crack at the 6f event on Saturday week.

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On Monday, Cox said: “We have been much happier with him. The initial concern was that he had injured a joint, but I am pleased to say that he has responded well to treatment and has been back in normal exercise for the last three days.

“We are obviously relieved and very happy with the way he has responded.”

Harry Angel has drifted from 4/1 favourite to 6/1 with Genting Bet for the third-day highlight of Newmarket’s July meeting, which starts on Thursday week.

And Cox says he could still defend his Darley July Cup title, where he could take on the Godolphin-owned Blue Point, winner of the King’s Stand Stakes at the Royal meeting, and the Aidan O’Brien-trained U S Navy Flag, who is dropping back from a mile after failing to stay in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Cox added: “I have an open mind as to whether he will run at Newmarket. We still have 12 days to go and we should have a clearer idea at the end of this week. The deciding factor is whether he feels okay by the weekend.”

Meanwhile, smart juvenile Konchek will step up in trip after he finished fifth to Shang Shang Shang in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes.

Having landed his maiden on debut at Newmarket, he has suffered two narrow defeats on his subsequent starts.

Cox said: “He has come out of the Norfolk very well and he ran well there. He will be stepping up to six furlongs from here. We have no plan for the short-term but he already has a rating of 99 so he’s a talented individual. The step up in trip should help him.”

Monday’s Selections:

PONTEFRACT: 2.00 Highly Sprung, 2.30 Wedding Date, 3.00 Rebel Assault, 3.30 Construct, 4.00 Battle Commence, 4.30 Intense Style, 5.00 Caribbean Spring

WOLVERHAMPTON (AW): 2.15 Energia Flavio, 2.45 WATER DIVINER (NAP), 3.15 Bbob Alula, 3.45 Erastus, 4.15 Berkshire Blue, 4.45 Rare Groove, 5.15 Edge, 5.45 Final Attack

WINDSOR: 6.00 Pilgrim Soul, 6.30 Ginger Nut, 7.00 Varsovian (nb), 7.30 Gracious John, 8.00 Team Decision, 8.30 Humbolt Current, 9.00 Fintech

HAMILTON PARK: 6.15 Berlios, 6.45 I Believe In You, 7.15 Pavers Pride, 7.45 Jabbaar, 8.15 Corton Lad, 8.45 Copper Baked, 9.15 La Sioux

Check out all the latest odds for Monday’s action and remember, Genting Bet offer Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK and Irish racing daily from 12.00pm