A trip to York for the G1 Nunthorpe S. is the next major target for Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) following another excellent effort in defeat in Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup. Denis Hogan's 4-year-old has made remarkable progress since opening his account at Dundalk in November–going on to complete a hat-trick at the County Louth venue before landing a listed prize at Naas and finishing a half-length third in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot. With Frankie Dettori keeping the ride at Newmarket, Sceptical this time filled the runner-up spot, 1 1/4 lengths behind the Roger Teal-trained Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}). Hogan reports his stable star to have returned to Ireland none the worse and he will now be prepared for a third tilt at Group 1 glory in the Coolmore-sponsored feature on Aug. 21.
“He was back home yesterday [Sunday] and he seems to come out of the race well. He was a bit tired from all the travelling, but he's good and sound, which is the main thing,” said the Tipperary-based trainer. “At the moment the plan is to go for the Nunthorpe. Frankie felt coming back to five [furlongs] would suit, which obviously means we'll have to take on Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), but we'll probably give it a go.
“There is a Group 3 at The Curragh on Aug. 9–the Phoenix Sprint S. We'll just see how he is over the next few days and then decide whether to run him there first or just go straight to York.
“After the Nunthorpe you've got the Flying Five back at the Curragh [Sept. 13] and Frankie mentioned the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye at ParisLongchamp, but the obvious worry with that race would be the ground can come up pretty soft. There are plenty of options and it's just a case of picking out the right races for him.”
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