Harry Angel may still run in July Cup despite Royal Ascot plight

Harry Angel is not out of the July Cup yet, having sustained what is hoped were only “superficial” injuries in his argument with the starting stalls at Royal Ascot on Saturday. Infection is the remaining concern, as the colt sustained a cut to the fetlock joint on his left hind leg and will have to be monitored closely for the next week in the hope that he can be at Newmarket on 14 July for a race he won last year.

“I’m pleased to say he’s improved, albeit slightly stiff this morning,” Clive Cox, the horse’s Lambourn-based trainer, said. “We’re very relieved that, apart from being a bit stiff, that’s the extent of it, really. Crikey, the outcome is very much a relief in light of what happened on the day.

“He had a cut on his joint, which was quite deep. The vets did a good job, that’s been flushed and cleaned and we’ll have to take care of that for a few days. That’s where he was lame behind. We just need to get through this week. We need to give him this week to be sure.

“From a fitness point of view, he went into this week in A1 condition and I couldn’t be more pleased, so the fact that all we have got is superficial, hopefully that won’t hinder us too much in maintaining his fitness and we can decide where we go from here.”

Harry Angel was sent off the 5-2 favourite on Saturday for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the highlight race of Royal Ascot’s final day. But he was fractious in the paddock, tried to run away from his handlers when Adam Kirby was attempting to mount and then lashed out with his hind legs in the starting stalls, with the result that his left hind foot became wedged on a running board and was still there when the stalls opened.

“It definitely prevented him getting into gear properly,” said Cox. The horse was eased down in the final furlong to finish 11th of the 12 runners.

Social media has been alive with concern over the incident, with some observers suggesting a horse that lashes out with its hind legs as Harry Angel did should be taken out of the stalls and inspected before being allowed to take part in a race. But Cox does not see the incident as suggesting change is necessary.

“I think we have a very professional team, in charge and operating down at the start. I don’t believe in pointing fingers after something like this. Nobody intended it to happen. I don’t see the merit in behaving like that.”

Cox accepts this is not the first time Harry Angel has behaved badly before a race. “We’ll be doing our part of the job in trying to rectify the problem.”

If Harry Angel cannot make the July Cup his owners, Godolphin, have a ready alternative in Blue Point, the winner of the King’s Stand Stakes on Royal Ascot’s opening day. His trainer, Charlie Appleby, was clear about what his horse would do next when asked on Sunday.

“Blue Point is likely to go for the July Cup. That’s the plan,” Appleby said. “It is very unfortunate what happened to Harry Angel and we will have to see how he is. Obviously, I’ll find out what Harry Angel is up to, what he’s doing and we’ll regroup nearer the time.”

Appleby said there had been no discussion about whether the two horses should be kept apart, though that was certainly not the policy last year, when they took each other on three times.

Both Harry Angel and Blue Point are available at 5-1 for the July Cup, along with Merchant Navy, Saturday’s winner. Merchant Navy’s connections had planned to skip the race in favour of returning to Australia for the breeding season but it will be no surprise if the trainer Aidan O’Brien changes their minds in view of Saturday’s result.