Euchen Glen proves dominant winner of 59th John Smith’s Cup Handicap at York

Ridden by Alistair Rawlinson, the Jim Goldie-trained horse dominated the 19 strong field for the day’s big race to win comfortably from Thndering Blue in second and Kynren in third.

The John Smith’s Cup is always a fascinating top-grade handicap and the richest middle distance handicap in Britain thanks to a prize pot of £385,000 on offer for the 59th running of the famous race.

Euchen Glen gave Rawlinson a comfortable trip which was over a mile and two and half furlongs, and the winner was not fazed by the large field, coming in two and a quarter lengths clear of Thundering Blue. Race favourite Dash Of Spice disappointed and was unplaced.

There was a thrilling climax to the John Smith’s Silver Cup as Dylan Mouth came from last to first to snatch victory.

Just five runners went to post for a race upgraded to Group Three status this season, and the William Haggas-trained Dal Harraild looked set to justify the tag as race favourite after cruising to the lead in the straight.However Dane O’Neill produced Marco Botti’s Dylan Mouth with a late challenge with only a neck’s distance between the pair at the line, with Scotland taking third three-quarters of a length back.

O’Neill doubled up for the day in the next race, the John Smith’s Racing Handicap, as favourite Wadilsafa romped to an emphatic victory.

Trained by Owen Burrows, the son of Frankel was enjoying a drop in grade after finishing down the field in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, and made the most of the opportunity with a dominant four-and-a-half-length verdict. Get Knotted was the distant second with Bless Him a further length and a half back.

Trainer Richard Fahey also enjoyed a winning double, which began in the day’s opener, the John Smith’s City Walls Stakes. That came courtesy of Mr Lupton, ridden by Jack Garritty, with the pair getting the decision by a head’s distance from Alpha Delphini in second and Muthmir in third.

Fahey’s double came in slightly more easier fashion in the John Smith’s Stayers’ Handicap courtesy of race favourite Northwest Frontier. Again it was Garritty at the helm for Fahey’s horse in this contest over just over two miles, and the pair came in three-quarters of a length from Master Archer in second and Here And Now in third.