Confidence Behind Dutch Bid

Peter Chapple-Hyam is confident Dutch Art can make a successful return to six furlongs in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Friday.

The Medicean colt has been campaigned over a mile on his last two starts, finishing third in the 2000 Guineas and then fourth in the St James's Palace Stakes.

Dutch Art has been heavily-backed in recent ante-post exchanges and has delighted connections in his recent homework.

The step back in trip holds little fear for Chapple-Hyam either as he was a dual Group One winner over six furlongs as a juvenile.

'After he was placed in the Guineas, I said he was going to run in the July Cup so it was always in the equation,' said the Newmarket trainer.

'He is coming back in trip but he has so much natural speed.

'We could have waited for the (Prix du) Moulin (at Longchamp) or the Maurice de Gheest (at Deauville) but he seems in such good form and has been working so nicely that we thought we would take our chance on Friday.

'He goes on any ground so there are no worries there.'

Chapple-Hyam is also planning to run Declaration Of War in the Weatherbys Superlative Stakes on the same card.

He told www.peterchapplehyam.com: 'Seven furlongs is exactly what he wants now. The Coventry was a bit too sharp for him plus the ground was probably a bit too firm.

'He has been thriving since Ascot and I'm very happy with him. His recent work has been very pleasing.'

(C) PA Sport