York Ebor Festival 2015: Lonsdale Cup preview (14.30)
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Mizzou was not seen to best effect last time out and looks decent value to land the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup on the third day at York’s Ebor Festival now dropped back down in trip (14.30).
The Luca Cumani trained colt showed improved form in each run last season when winning three times from five starts, and looked a potential star stayer in the making when winning reappearance in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes over 2m at Ascot.
After being hampered at the start and held-up in touch at the rear of the field by jockey William Buick, Mizzou made smooth headway out wide two from home to take up the running at the furlong marker and beat Vent De Force going away by two lengths.
The runner-up has since gone on to land a Group 3 contest at Sandown to give the form a solid look, and there was lots to like about the way Mizzou travelled strongly into the contest before asserting to score with more in hand than the winning margin suggests.
Mizzou was sent off a heavily-backed 7/2 second favourite for the Group 1 Gold Cup over 2m 4f at Royal Ascot on the back of that effort, and ran far better than his 3 3/4 length seventh of 12 to Trip To Paris suggests.
The son of Galileo was held-up miles off the pace and given an impossible task by Buick, and it was to his credit that he managed to get so close.
There is little doubt in my mind that Mizzou was give far too much to do, and the four-year-old definitely looks worth another chance to confirm earlier promise now eased in grade.
The drop back to 2m will also suit, and Mizzou remains open to further progress after seven career starts and is versatile as regards ground.
Big Orange comes into the contest at the top of his game and looks sure to give Mizzou plenty to think about.
The Michael Bell trained gelding has taken his form to a new level since being fitted with cheekpieces, landing a Group 2 contest at Newmarket and the Group 2 Goodwood Cup on his latest outing.
Big Orange showed a tremendous attitude in the latter to dig deep under a power-packed ride from Jamie Spencer to beat Quest for More and Trip To Paris, and the form reads well in the context of this contest.
The four-year-old is a bold front runner who doesn’t shirk the issue, and if allowed to dominate is going to prove a tough nut to crack.
Coral’s top tip: Mizzou has a progressive profile and looks decent value to get back to winning ways in a wide-open renewal of the Lonsdale Cup
