Archivist Favourite to Collect John Smith’s Cup Prize at York this Weekend

York Racecourse Against Blue Cloudy Sky
Image: Alasdair Massie, flickr

Newmarket’s July Festival hogs the Group race spotlight this week, with the Falmouth Stakes for the fillies and the July Cup for the speedballs serving up a top-class double bill. Away from the pattern-class menu, handicap fans have much to look forward to. The Bunbury Cup presents a fiendish puzzle to solve on the July Cup undercard, while Saturday afternoon also sees one of the leading handicaps in the North of England unfold at York.

First run in 1960 and supported by John Smith’s Brewery from the off, the John Smith’s Cup boasts the longest continually running sponsorship deal in British flat racing. Run over the 1m 2½f trip and offering £200,000 in prize money, the race serves as a beacon to the most talented middle-distance handicappers in training.

A healthy 18 remain in contention out of the maximum field of 22, but who does the market suggest might come out on top?

Hattrick-Seeking Colt Leads the Way for Haggas

John Smith's Cup 2025 Betting

Newmarket-based William Haggas has headed north to plunder this pot on three occasions in the past – most recently with Sinjaari in 2020. Haggas has three entries in 2025, headed by a three-year-old who sports the instantly recognizable silks of Cheveley Park Stud.

By Dubawi and out of a Galileo mare, Archivist makes stacks of appeal on paper. Having made only one previous start in a handicap, he also boasts the type of unexposed profile that punters find tough to resist. Second on his final three outings for Sir Michael Stoute, Archivist again showed a liking for the runners-up position on his debut for Haggas in May. However, he has since found the winning groove at Leicester and in a 1m event at this track in June. He receives a 5lb rise for that success, but is bred to improve for his first crack at 1m 2f.

Of the other Haggas entries, Arabian Force is even less exposed than Archivist and takes a drop in class from the Hampton Court Stakes, while The King’s Falcon carries the royal colours and won nicely at Carlisle last time out.

Burke to Thunder to Victory?

Locally based Karl Burke lifted the John Smith’s Cup for the first and so far, only, time when saddling Achilles to victory in 1999. Might Thunder Run be the horse to end that 26-year hiatus?

Unraced as a juvenile, this Night Of Thunder gelding made up for lost time when winning three of six starts at three, including the Clipper Handicap at this track. Headed into the current campaign, he looked the type to progress beyond handicap company, only to finish a never-threatening 15th in the Lincoln Handicap. However, he bounced back to winning form over this course and distance last time and boasts solid claims off a 4lb higher mark.

Varian to Defend Crown with Defiance?

First successful with Farraaj in 2014, Roger Varian added a second John Smith’s Cup win to his CV when landing the 2024 edition with Enfjaar.

Twelve months on, the Classic-winning trainer sends out Defiance in his bid to make it three. Like Archivist, this son of Camelot will be making only his second start in handicap company on Saturday afternoon. However, unlike the hattrick-seeking market leader, he arrives on a losing streak extending back to his debut win at Sandown in August 2023.

Touted as a potential Derby contender at one stage, he has fallen some way short of those aspirations. On the plus side, he hinted at a return to form when fourth at Epsom on his seasonal return. Making his second start following a gelding operation, he could prove fairly handicapped off a mark of 99.

Bethell’s Storm in Cup Contention

With the days counting down towards the big race, Ed Bethell’s See That Storm is one of only five runners trading at a single-figure price – alongside Archivist, Thunder Run, Arabian Force, and Defiance.

Yet to finish outside the first three in nine career outings, the mount of Callum Rodriguez scores top marks for consistency – in six efforts over this trip, his form figures read: 111122. Getting in off the same mark as when second over this course and distance in June, he is one of the more obvious each-way contenders.

Andrew Balding, Alan King, Harry Charlton, and Richard Fahey are among the other trainers represented in this red-hot handicap. This is year’s renewal is set for 3:10pm on Saturday.