Alain de Royer-Dupre is hopeful that Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Vazirabad will find some fight and go one better in the Qatar Goodwood Cup next month.

The leading French stayer who made his British debut at the Royal meeting, was beaten three-quarters of a length by Stradivarius last week.

His trainer admitted afterwards: “He doesn’t like to fight, he comes and then he stops. He didn’t blow too much afterwards, he gave the minimum. It’s why he can have a long career.”

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The six-year-old, who was making his British debut when runner-up at Royal Ascot, has already won three times at the top level in France. For the last three years, he has also taken the valuable Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan, bringing his career earnings to just short of £2.5 million.

Chantilly-based de Royer-Dupre is keen for the son of Manduro to take on the John Gosden-trained Stradivarius again. Both are among 26 entries for the two-mile Group 1, the feature on day one of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, which starts on Tuesday, July 31.

De Royer-Dupre said: “We are certainly considering the Qatar Goodwood Cup for Vazirabad. We will keep an eye on the weather, as I wouldn’t want to travel with him if it is really hot. If it is normal weather and not too hot, we will certainly look at coming over.

“He has come back well from Royal Ascot. He doesn’t give the maximum in his races – he is an old man who knows his job and looks after himself!

“Because of the way he races, it has meant he has been able to stay in training for a long time in such good condition. It would be nice to take on Stradivarius again.”

Barring a setback, Stradivarius, owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen, will contest the £500,000 event as a £1 million bonus has been offered by Weatherbys Hamilton to the horse who wins one of four prep races in May followed by the Group 1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, the Group 1 Qatar Goodwood Cup and the Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes (York, August 24).

Stradivarius, who captured the 2017 renewal of the Qatar Goodwood Cup, beating 2015 and 2016 winner Big Orange, landed a prep race, the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup in May, before scoring at Royal Ascot.

Other Gold Cup runners who could re-oppose Stradivarius include the third home Torcedor (Jessica Harrington) and the fourth, Order Of St George, winner of the Gold Cup in 2016 and twice successful in the Irish St Leger. He is one of seven entries for Aidan O’Brien.

Meanwhile, Blue Point is on course for the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday, July 14.

He is one of 31 horses to stand their ground following the scratchings stage.

Blue Point, who won the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, is the Genting Bet 4/1 favourite for the £500,000 six-furlong event, which goes a long way to determining Europe’s Champion Sprinter.

His trainer, Charlie Appleby, said: “Blue Point has come out of the King’s Stand Stakes very well and the plan for him is to head straight for the Darley July Cup.

“He will be stepping back up to six furlongs but a stiff six is well within his compass – he holds the Ascot track record at that trip, don’t forget, and he was placed in a Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs as a two-year-old.”

In Irish Derby news, Mark Johnston has turned to champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa to partner Invested Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee at the Curragh on Saturday.

Johnston said: “William Buick was going to ride him but with Charlie Appleby declaring another horse (Old Persian) we have switched back to Silvestre, the same jockey as in the Derby, so it couldn’t be better.

“Everything has been great since Epsom, perfect. Any rain would have suited us but, at the same time, we don’t think he needs it, so we’re happy to go.”

Dee Ex Bee is the Genting Bet 7/2 second favourite behind 2,000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior.

There is no Jumps action on Thursday, but there are five Flat meetings in Britain.

Newmarket’s feature is a 7f handicap for horses rated 0-100 (4.25pm), where eight runners are scheduled to go to post.

They are headed by Aces, who landed the Tokyo Trophy at Epson last time. The Appleby-trained On The Warpath bids for a hat-trick but is having his first run for the yard since December, having switched from Sir Mark Prescott’s stable. Likewise, the Amanda Perrett-trained Saluti is on a three-timer, having followed up success on the Rowley Mile with another at Haydock and he shoulders another 3lb.

Thursday’s Selections

NEWCASTLE (AW): 1.30 Hernando Torres, 2.00 Captain Peaky, 2.30 Antagonise, 3.00 Federal Law, 3.40 Frown, 4.15 Poet’s Society, 4.50 Dream Today, 5.20 Saisons D’Or

NEWMARKET (JULY): 1.40 Happy Odyssey, 2.10 Ashington, 2.40 The Establishment, 3.15 Racing Country, 3.50 Restive Spirit, 4.25 Aces, 5.00 Mr Tyrrell, 5.30 Delegate This Lor

NOTTINGHAM: 2.20 Alabama Dreaming, 2.50 Extra Elusive, 3.25 Midnight Meeting, 4.00 Jurz, 4.35 How Far, 5.10 Kingstreet Lady, 5.45 Pondering

LEICESTER: 5.40 Bosham, 6.10 Nayef Road, 6.40 Arctic Sea, 7.15 Mrs Benson, 7.50 Claudine, 8.20 Mutabaahy, 8.50 Broad Appeal

HAMILTON: 6.00 Thorntoun Care, 6.30 Port Of Leith, 7.00 Gaelic Wizard, 7.35 Moved, 8.10 Bush Beauty, 8.40 Billy Dylan, 9.10 Vallarta

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

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