Rapid sprinter Judicial set Nunthorpe Stakes mission at York

JUDICIAL will have his sights raised in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York later this month.

Julie Camacho's speedster will take on the big boys in the £350,000 Group 1 at the Ebor Festival on 24 August.

The gelding has been in good form this season and won a Group 3 at Sandown last time out.

He had the option of tackling the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh last month but he was ruled out.

His trainer was not satisfied with a pre-race blood test on that occasion, while he was also taken out of a potential outing at Chester on Sunday.

However, Dan Downie, racing manager for owners the Elite Racing Club, said the horse was in top condition.

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He said: "Judicial is in good form and everyone is very happy with him.

"He hasn't had a setback as such.

"His bloods just weren't 100 per cent and we didn't think it was sensible to take him to Ireland.

"He could have run at Chester, but we decided to miss that and go straight for the Nunthorpe, as he does tend to run well fresh."

Judicial is a 20-1 shot for the Nunthorpe, with runaway Glorious Goodwood winner Battaash the odds-on jolly to win his second Group 1.

Downie continued: "Battaash is obviously going to be very hard to beat, but we feel our horse is going there in the form of his life.

"Take Cover and Muthmir finished second and third at Goodwood and Judicial beat Take Cover at Beverley and Muthmir at Sandown, so he thoroughly deserves his place in the field."