Smart waits on Bond decision

Bryan Smart is going to wait until after the five-day stage to decide which race to run Monsieur Bond in at Royal Ascot next week.

Monsieur Bond, a close sixth in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas, holds an entry in the St James’s Palace Stakes but will also be put in the Jersey Stakes.

“He’s in the St James’s Palace and he’ll also be aimed at the Jersey. I haven’t made a decision which race yet but he’s in cracking form with himself and I’m delighted with him. He looks marvellous,” the Thirsk trainer said today.

“I’ll confirm him for both and then have a look. They say the St James’s Palace is going to be a hot race – but it’s Royal Ascot.”

The £250,000 (€353,000) St James’s Palace is a Group One race over the round mile while the Group Three Jersey Stakes is run over the straight seven furlongs and carries £75,000 (€106,000) in prize money.

Smart believes that the son of Danehill Dancer, who finished strongly in the Newmarket Classic after being denied a clear run, will be suited by either trip.

“I think seven will be fine for him and he got the mile well enough in the Guineas, so I’m not worried either,” he went on.

“You’d like to go for the easier option to give him some more confidence.

“I would have liked to have run him beforehand but it’s just been one of those silly things. We’ve had horses not quite right.

“He’s been OK but what was amazing was that I didn’t think I was going to have a winner all through May and then we had two on the last day and they both broke track records at Catterick. So you know they are all right.

“Monsieur Bond is in cracking form. He’s done plenty of work and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.

“He was bucking and squealing this morning and he’ll work tomorrow.”