Charlie Appleby reveals Royal Ascot hero Blue Point has Nunthorpe Stakes option after July Cup flop
Blue Point went off the favourite for the July Cup but could not make any impact on the leaders and finished down the field
BLUE POINT could drop back in trip for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York next month.
Charlie Appleby's King's Stand winner was sent off the favourite for Saturday's July Cup, but could never get involved after racing to keenly in the early stages of the race.
Connections are now considering a crack at the likes of the Nunthorpe or the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five on Irish Champions Weekend.
Appleby said: "William Buick said he couldn't get any cover early on and therefore he over-raced.
"Take nothing away from the winner, he's a multiple Group 1 winner and displayed a lot of speed, but it just didn't pan out for us.
"On the back of that Will mentioned dropping back to five, which just might help him in the first furlong so he can race the right way round, whereas yesterday he raced the wrong way round.
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"He's got the Nunthorpe and the Flying Five as options. He does have a great track record at Ascot, but he also won the Gimcrack at York, so he obviously handles that.
"We'll see how he comes out of the race, but the Nunthorpe is a live shot as well, still."
Appleby enjoyed a successful July Festival and his youngsters Quorto and Al Hilalee put up impressive performances.
The Godolphin trainer continued: "We had a good July meeting and hopefully we've got a couple of nice two-year-olds coming to the fore.
"Al Hilalee, who broke his maiden on Friday and looks a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-a-half type of a horse, and Quorto on Saturday.
"He (Quorto) showed plenty of gears and when you are talking about top-class horses, they should be showing that.
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"Masar won over six furlongs and this horse broke his maiden over six as well.
"We're hopeful that when he steps up in trip you'll see further improvement, but when they have the pace to win over six it's a good sign. Those good middle-distance horses have to have boot
"I think the National Stakes (at the Curragh) looks the logical place to go with him."