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Beckford all set for Middle Park test

Beckford Beckford
© Photo Healy Racing

Beckford is set to drop back in distance for the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Gordon Elliott's youngster won the Railway Stakes at the Curragh in July, was beaten just half a length by Sioux Nation in the Phoenix Stakes, and was last seen chasing home the impressive Verbal Dexterity in the National Stakes.

"Beckford has come out of the National Stakes well and the plan is to run him in the Middle Park," said Elliott.

"He seems in good form, but he never does anything too fancy at home. He just does what he has to do. I think the drop back to six (furlongs) will suit him."

Aidan O'Brien has won the Middle Park on four previous occasions and has four contenders for this year's renewal, headed by Sioux Nation.

The Ballydoyle handler could also call on Declarationofpeace, Fleet Review and U S Navy Flag, with t he Jessica Harrington-trained Brother Bear and Romanised from Ken Condon's yard the other potential challengers from Ireland.

Jim Crowley will partner Prix Morny hero Unfortunately for the first time.

Karl Burke's juvenile caused a minor upset when landing the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte in July, but proved that was no fluke when seeing off stablemate Havana Grey at Deauville last month.

The Society Rock colt, who has recently been snapped up by Cheveley Park Stud, has been partnered by French-based jockey Tony Piccone on his last two starts, but Crowley will get the leg-up on the Rowley Mile.

Burke said: "Obviously it's Arc weekend at Chantilly, so there are jockeys riding there as well as at Newmarket.

"I came up with a list of three possible jockeys, put them to the owners and Jim was top of the list. Jim has ridden plenty of winners for me in the past and we're delighted to have him on board."

Andrew Balding has supplemented Danzan, who was runner-up in a valuable sales race at Doncaster recently, while Richard Spencer's Coventry Stakes hero Rajasinghe and Richard Fahey's Gimcrack scorer Sands Of Mali add further strength in depth.

Cardsharp (Mark Johnston), Frozen Angel (Tom Dascombe), Hey Jonesy (Kevin Ryan) and Never Back Down (Hugo Palmer) are the other hopefuls.

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