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Dubai rivals Blue Point and Battaash go head-to-head at York

Sport360 staff

22:50 23/08/2018

Godolphin’s accomplished Blue Point is primed and ready for another clash with headline-making speedster Battaash in Friday’s G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Blue Point was brilliant when he defeated rival Battaash by a length and threequarters in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Trainer Charlie Appleby is delighted Blue Point (stall 16) has drawn close to Battaash (14) for what could develop into another memorable speed battle.

“In these top sprints, you need to be near the pace, and we know Battaash is the pace angle,” Appleby said.

“I’m happy with the draw. A bit of rain won’t do any harm, and as long as it’s a sound surface come Friday, we’ve got to have a live chance,” he added.

As for Blue Point’s defeat in the July Cup, Appleby said he had analysed the race from several different angles.

“You can’t say that the step up in trip (to 6 furlongs) was a negative, but the track and unfortunately the way the race was run were perhaps against him,” he pointed out.

“He was a bit too free and saw a bit too much daylight there. He ran the reverse way around — that is, he did too much racing early on. I feel that the track and the trip are going to suit him in the Nunthorpe,” he added.

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