Spyce up for the Cup at Newbury

While Chelsea and Manchester City will slug it out for FA Cup honours at Wembley on Saturday down at Newbury on the same afternoon Spyce will bid to secure his own Cup success.

Having finished fifth on his return to action in the Group Three bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown Park last month the son of Too Darn Hot will drop down from pattern race company to contest the Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap at the Berkshire track.

And having had a run to blow away the cobwebs Alan beileves that Spyce, who signed off last season finishing fourth in the Group Three Night Of Thunder Zetland Stakes at Newmarket, can take a major step forward on his second start of the campaign.

Alan said: “We thought this might be a good route to go with him after the Classic Trial at Sandown Park and see where we are with him. He had a good blow after Sandown Park so hopefully he has come on fitness wise and I’ve been happy with his work since.

“It is a hugely competitive race, and there are a lot of improving three year olds in there, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on in it.”

Before Spyce hits the track stablemate Alcarath will be in action at the Berkshure venue on Friday when stepping back up in trip to ten furlongs to tackle the Titan Wealth Handicap.

After putting in a promising comeback over nine furlongs in the Betfred Suffolk Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month Alan expects the gelded sion of Acclamation to take even closer order on this occasion.

Alan said: “It seems to have come out of the run at Newmarket very well. I would be happy if they got a drop of rain at Newbury overnight as I think that would help him. He is in good order and hopefully he will build on the Newmarket run.

“He is going back up slightly in trip and that will help him as well. He handled Newmarket alright, but I’m not really worried about track bias with him as he is fairly straightforward.”