Bolger takes bold Approach

JIM Bolger does not expect New Approach to be troubled by his abortive trip to York as he lines up in the rescheduled Juddmonte International at Newmarket today.

The Derby winner got as far as Dublin Airport before the Coolcullen handler heard York was in doubt and decided to call off his trip across the Irish Sea.

And despite being off the track since his triumph at Epsom with a slight setback, Bolger is confident the Galileo colt is back to his best.

“He got to Dublin airport and then I heard from William Derby (clerk of the course at York) that racing was in doubt,” said Bolger.

“As York had an extra 11 millimetres of rain he probably wasn’t going to run, so I was quite happy for him to turn round and come home.

“He was really only gone for about five hours and we were able to give him a canter when he got back in the afternoon and he was fresh and well.

“I didn’t see him out this morning as I had to leave to come here (Newmarket) but his rider reported that he is seriously well.

“We will go to the races and take on whatever turns up, and we are happy to do that. We concentrate on the racing and all I can say is that he is very well and we are hoping for a very good run.”

When asked for his opinion of chief rival and four-time Group One winner Duke Of Marmalade, Bolger quipped: “I will be using him when he goes to stud.”

Pipedreamer has been running consistently well in the big races all season and finally got a win on the board at York last time but trainer John Gosden is well aware of the task he faces.

“The two monsters have turned up in Duke Of Marmalade and New Approach so it is a stunning Juddmonte International,” he told Channel 4 Racing.

“It’s very good that Juddmonte were prepared to move it and it has made for the most fantastic race.

“It’s great to be part of it but we are boxing a little bit on the undercard.

“He won a Group Two last time out in great fashion, he’s in great form so we’ll run him here and then put him away until the Champion Stakes.”

Neil Callan is delighted to have picked up the ride on Cat Junior and believes he is a lively outsider in the Group One contest.

“You don’t normally pick up a ride in a Group One race quite this late but it is great for me,” said the jockey.

“It’s nice of Brian (Meehan) to think of me as there are a lot of good jockeys out there and I am desperately looking forward to it.

“He’s only had the three runs this season and seems to be getting better each time.

“He wasn’t beaten far by Henrythenavigator at Ascot so his form is rock-solid - Brian wouldn’t be running him if he didn’t think he was up to the task.”

Juddmonte International, Blue Square bet: Evens Duke Of Marmalade, 9-4 New Approach, 10-1 Phoenix Tower, 12-1 Bar