Rahiebb races into Gold Cup reckoning for Ascot St Leger runner-up Rahiebb inspired Gold Cup dreams when making a winning return in the Boodles Yorkshire Cup on the Knavesmire. Roger Varian’s Frankel colt found only Scandinavia too good at Doncaster in September and was making slightly belated return at York having been a late withdrawal from the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last week. After travelling kindly in the hands of Ray Dawson as Ralph Beckett’s 8-13 favourite Amiloc cut out the running, Rahiebb (4-1) moved stylishly into contention and when hitting the front showcased his stamina to pull two and a quarter lengths clear of Tom Clover’s Al Nayyir in second. The winner was immediately cut to 7-1 from 14s for Royal Ascot’s staying showpiece, where he could rematch his Town Moor conqueror. Varian said: “That was lovely to watch, it was very smooth and he’s a lovely horse. “He had a long year and was learning on the job all season really, he made his debut at Newcastle in February and finished up in the St Leger. “He was such a baby last year, he was doing a lot of things wrong but still running well. He’s really matured over the winter. You only had to look at him in the paddock, you didn’t have to know anything about horses to know he’s a magnificent specimen. “Hopefully his best days are still in front of him, he’s a lovely horse.” As for the future, Varian is keen to go for gold at Ascot. He said: “We think he’s a Cup horse for the Cup races, not just Ascot but of course we have to think of him as an Ascot Gold Cup candidate. It’s a tough division but a fun one to be involved in, he stays very well. “We don’t know about two and a half miles, but I love stayers. He’s a classy horse. “I think he’s ground versatile. He ran very well in the (Queen’s) Vase last year when he did everything wrong, even before we got a saddle on, and he still nearly won. I just hope he’s maturing. “He was due to run at Chester last week, maybe it’s a blessing we didn’t but we weren’t sure about the ground after something had slipped and then they had an inspection. It just didn’t feel right and he’s an important horse for us, it might have been different if we didn’t have this as Plan B. “It’s a big winner for Ray, he’s a good rider, rode some big winners last year and will step forward on that this year I’m sure.” Dawson said: “He’s a beautiful animal, he’a been very well trained and Tony Proctor (former jockey) rides him out. I’m the lucky man on board today. “Connections have been good to me, this is my first year riding as first jockey to Roger and we put a lot of hope in this lad for the season. “I was always confident, I knew turning in I was going to win, I just didn’t want to get there too early.” James Doyle said of Al Nayyir: “You could set your clock by him, he’s a dude isn’t he. He had a good campaign in the Middle East and he’s come back as good as ever. He’s run some big races here, just touched off two years ago in the Lonsdale Cup. He’s a lucky horse for the owners to have.” David O’Meara said of the third home, Epic Poet: “We’re delighted, another great run by him. He was second last year and third this year, the race looked to go really well for him, late on they all drifted over to the rail and he’s not always the bravest but I’ve no complaints. “He’s probably back to his best really. The Grand Cup back here would be a good option for him.”
