TRAINER Andrew Balding has the talented Elbereth in fine fettle for the 57th running of the John Smith’s Cup at York.

The now £200,000 race is the highlight on this Saturday’s action on the Knavesmire and looks sure to be another high-quality renewal. A £50,000 boost in prize money makes the mile-and-a-quarter race the richest middle-distance handicap in Britain.

Elbereth, a daughter of Mount Nelson, comes into the race in good heart having taken the Listed Nottinghamshire Oaks in early June. Owned and bred by David Taylor, Elbereth is no stranger to big-handicap success with a neck victory over stalwart Fire Fighting in a valuable contest at Epsom’s Investec Derby Festival in 2015.She has been a model of consistency and connections are looking forward to letting her take her chance at York.

Balding said: “Elbereth has been in good form since winning at Nottingham and this has been her target since.

“It seems realistic to have a go at this as she is a Listed winner who is still off a reasonable handicap mark and I think she is capable of being competitive.

“The track should suit and as long as it doesn’t rain too much, Saturday is the plan.”

The current market leader is the James Fanshawe-trained Arthenus who was last seen finishing fourth in the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot.

The in-form Godolphin team also look to hold a strong hand with four representatives headed by Carry On Deryck. The son of Halling was a winner at Meydan back in February and ran well when last seen in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Named after Britain’s best-selling ale, the John Smith’s Cup is the longest continuous commercial sponsorship of a Flat race in the country.

Also on Saturday are two cracking Listed contests. The John Smith’s Silver Cup, run over the Betfred Ebor trip of a mile and three-quarters, may see Betway Yorkshire Cup winner and local favourite Clever Cookie lock horns again with the runner-up Curbyourenthusiasm, while the one-two from the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate – Antiquariam and Seamour – also feature among the twenty-one strong entry.

The sprinters take centre stage in the John Smith’s City Walls Stakes where a number of old favourites could line up. Commonwealth Cup runner-up Kachy takes the eye but this rising sprint star will have to be at his best to beat the likes of Muthmir, Pretend and ‘Wokingham’ winner, Outback Traveller.

Saturday’s racing at York starts at 1.55pm though the two-day meeting gets underway a day earlier with another afternoon of Pattern class action, including the 188BET Summer Stakes – a six-furlong Group 3 for fillies and mares.

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