Chapple-Hyam places confidence in Arod to complete his hat-trick

Chapple-Hyam’s charge heads to York following a confidence-boosting victory, albeit in modest company at Leicester, and the handler is hopeful that the lightly-raced horse can replicate his May form when second in the Betfred Dante before finishing fourth in the Epsom Derby.

“I am very happy with Arod. He did a nice bit of work on Thursday. It is obviously going to be a very tough race, but he goes there with a chance and a mile and a quarter is his right trip,” he said.

“He will compete and is getting better as the year goes on. He had a hard race in the Derby and didn’t stay – the front two (Australia and Kingston Hill) are very good horses.

“Leicester was just to get his head in front and I couldn’t fault him since. We just don’t need too much rain – the faster the ground the better. I don’t think we’ll get fast ground, but we might get good ground with a bit of luck.”

Chapple-Hyam’s previous successes came courtesy of 2000 Guineas winner Rodrigo de Triano who died last week at the age of 25. The horse’s win in 1992 was a defining moment of Lester Piggott’s incomparable comeback.

In 2007 Authorized pulled off the Epsom Derby and International double for Frankie Dettori. “When Rodrigo won it was a great day. With Authorized, people were doubting him and he came back and proved that he was a good horse. I think the Juddmonte International has been a lucky race for me,” said the trainer.

“I love York. It is nice to go there with a chance. It is one of the best tracks – great fun and Yorkshire people come out in force.”

In other Ebor festival news, John Gosden’s superstar filly Taghrooda is one of nine remaining possibles in Thursday’s Darley Yorkshire Oaks.

Her opponents could include Lily Rules who was second in York’s Musidora Stakes for Norton trainer Tony Coyle before finishing ninth in the Epsom Oaks behind Taghrooda.

Meanwhile, Roger Varian’s unbeaten Royal Ascot winner Cursory Glance is among 15 fillies to stand their ground for the Pinsent Masons Lowther Stakes on Thursday.