Cunningham Suffering Cockney Nerves

Cockney Rebel´s owner Phil Cunningham admits to feeling more pressure ahead of tomorrow´s St James´s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot than before any other race.

Despite already having two Classics in the bag this season thanks to his exploits at Newmarket and the Curragh, Cunningham is feeling the strain more than ever as his star performer looks to build on his impressive reputation.

'It´s all starting to happen now and it began to get a little bit real after Sunday night. The sweaty palms have started!' said Cunningham.

'Everyone is trying to convince me that the horse doesn´t owe us a penny and telling me it doesn´t matter but the closer it gets to the race, I just want to win so badly for everyone involved.

'It´s a fantastic race in prospect and I just hope that our fellow gets to run his race but there is no reason to suggest he won´t do ? he´s in fantastic form.

'Geoff (Huffer, trainer) phoned me this morning to tell me he had done his last canter and everything was good so it´s all systems go now.

'These small fields can sometimes be very tactical and it is round a bend as well.

'He travels so well though, and there is no better sight than seeing top-class horses turn into the straight at Ascot on the bridle ? hopefully that is how he´ll run.

'I´ve dreamt of him winning on the bridle and I´ve also seen him winning in a photo finish but either will do tomorrow!'

Huffer, who sent out Persian Heights to win the race in 1988, believes the best is still to come from the Val Royal colt.

'We´ve had no hitches, he´s in fine form and I´m well pleased with him. We´ve had no problems at all, he´s in flying form,' said Huffer.

'Persian Heights was a very good horse and he´d done it already, but this fellow is a very good horse also. I think this one is just a little bit on the better side.

'I think he is still improving too. He´ll be a better horse than he was in Ireland ? he´ll settle better that´s for sure.

'I keep looking for a chink in his armour but I haven´t found one yet.'

Cockney Rebel has beaten the Aidan O´Brien-trained Duke Of Marmalade into fourth place in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas and the pair clash again in Berkshire.

The Ballydoyle team is bolstered by Astronomer Royal and Excellent Art, first and fourth in the French Guineas, this time.

'Obviously there wasn´t much between them in France,' said O´Brien.

'Astronomer Royal came out wide to make his challenge and usually when you come wide off the bend you lose two or three lengths.

'Excellent Art stayed down the inner and he was getting a good, clear run until late.

'On the book, it looks like there is not much between them and in these championship races it usually comes down to the smallest margins and who gets the luck on the day,' he told At The Races.

Dutch Art, twice a Group One winner as a two-year-old, finished third at Newmarket and Peter Chapple-Hyam is eager to have another crack at his Newmarket conqueror.

'Dutch Art is in very good form. The St James´s Palace has always been the plan for him since the Guineas and I´m more than happy with him,' he said.

'Cockney Rebel beat us fair and square at Newmarket but we are going to try to reverse the form.

'All ground seems to come the same to him, so that won´t be an issue. He is one of the few horses who can go on just about any ground,' the trainer told www.peterchapplehyam.com.

St James´s Palace Stakes betting

Totesport: 11-8 Cockney Rebel, 9-4 Dutch Art, 11-2 Excellent Art, 11-1 Astronomer Royal, 12-1 Creachadoir, 14-1 Duke Of Marmalade, 25-1 He´s A Decoy, 66-1 Jack Junior.

William Hill: 11-8 Cockney Rebel, 5-2 Dutch Art, 6-1 Excellent Art, 8-1 Astronomer Royal, 10-1 Creachadoir, 12-1 Duke Of Marmalade, 20-1 He´s A Decoy, 40-1 Jack Junior.

? PA Sport