John Smith's Cup
Heritage Handicap, York 15:10
£200,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
1m 2f 56y, Class 2   
Saturday 12th July 2025

1 Fox Legacy 10/1
2 See That Storm 11/2
3 Archivist 15/8F
4 Erzindjan 80/1
18 ran NR: Paddy The Squire
Distances: 1l, ¾l, hd Time: 2m 10.10s (slow by 1.80s)

The John Smith’s Cup rarely disappoints — and it was Fox Legacy who rolled back the months and turned the screw in Saturday’s feature at York, handing trainer Andrew Balding a double to remember.

Fresh from striking gold with Never So Brave in Group company at Ascot barely an hour earlier, Balding was back in the winner’s enclosure — this time on the Knavesmire — as Fox Legacy found the rhythm that had marked him out in the spring, storming to a game success from a tricky draw under a superbly judged ride by P J McDonald.

The four-year-old had announced his return with a bang in the Betfred Suffolk Stakes at Newmarket back in May, only to find things unfolding too quickly when dropped to a mile for the Royal Hunt Cup. But stepped back up in trip and with the Yorkshire sun shining, he turned stall 19 from burden to badge of honour, sweeping down the outside to edge past the ever-consistent See That Storm by a length.

McDonald, not for the first time this season, got it spot on. Settled, switched off, produced at the right time — it was everything the gelding needed to rediscover that Newmarket spark. "It’s all credit to the horse,” he told ITV Racing. “From that draw, I was able to get a position, take him back, and get him to relax. I just had to make sure I didn’t go too soon.”

The gallant See That Storm gave trainer Ed Bethell and Callum Rodriguez a bold sight of the prize but had to settle for second. Just behind in third came the well-supported favourite Archivist, who dictated for much of the race and stuck on bravely, beaten only a head for the silver medal.

Fourth place went the way of Erzindjan — a 80/1 shot who outran every expectation — with Austrian Theory plugging on into fifth at a punchy 33s.

This was a third win in the race for King Power Racing, who continue to target — and land — the top handicaps. And a tip of the cap to Andrew Asquith of Sporting Life, whose 14/1 nod to Fox Legacy in his Tuesday Weekend View column proved spot on.

On a day when Balding’s team could do little wrong, Fox Legacy ensured the headlines kept flowing.

John Smith's Cup (Heritage Handicap)
£200,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 56y, Class 2
18 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (19)    Fox Legacy 4 9-4 Andrew Balding P J McDonald 10/1
2 (10) 1 See That Storm 4 9-3 Edward Bethell Callum Rodriguez 11/2
3 (6) ¾ Archivist 1 3 8-7 5ex William Haggas Adam Farragher 15/8F
4 (14) hd Erzindjan 7 9-6 T J Kent Ray Dawson 80/1
5 (3) 1¼ Austrian Theory 6 8-8 Tim Easterby Warren Fentiman 33/1
6 (17) 1¼ Thunder Run 4 9-12 K R Burke Clifford Lee 15/2
7 (8) 1¼ Dark Moon Rising 6 8-11 Kevin Ryan Josephine Gordon 40/1
8 (13) ½ Naqeeb 5 9-11 Julie Camacho Kevin Stott 12/1
9 (18) 1¼ Brioni 4 9-4 5ex Alan King Rossa Ryan 25/1
10 (7) 2½ Mirabeau 3 8-10 Dominic Ffrench Davis Jason Hart 25/1
11 (15) nk Ancient Rome 6 9-10 Charles Hills Rob Hornby 28/1
12 (11) hd Romieu 4 8-12 Adrian Paul Keatley Elizabeth Gale 18/1
13 (4) ¾ Soldier's Empire 4 9-9 Marco Botti Hollie Doyle 40/1
14 (9) 1¼ Hand Of God 4 9-10 Harry Charlton Daniel Tudhope 7/1
15 (5) hd Have Secret 5 9-1 Richard Fahey Billy Garritty 22/1
16 (12) 5½ Faylaq 9 9-4 Jim Goldie Paul Mulrennan 33/1
17 (2) 3¼ Qitaal 6 8-5 Charlie Johnston Joanna Mason 16/1
18 (1) 54 Auld Toon Loon 6 9-5 Tom Dascombe Pierre-Louis Jamin 12/1
NR 17 (16) Paddy The Squire 5 8-7 Iain Jardine NON RUNNER

Recent John Smith’s Cup Winners.......

2024 – Enfjaar (15/2) Roger Varian
2023 – Pride Of America (18/1) Amy Murphy
2022 – Anmaat (5/1 jfav) Owen Burrows
2021 – Johnny Drama (22/1) Andrew Balding
2020 – Sinjaari (11/1) William Haggas
2019 – Pivoine (14/1) Andrew Balding
2018 – Euchen Glen (20/1) Jim Goldie
2017 – Ballet Concerto (8/1) Sir Michael Stoute
2016 – Educate (18/1) Ismail Mohammed 
2015 – Master Carpenter (14/1) Rod Millman
2014 – Farraaj (6/1) Roger Varian
2013 – Danchai (10/1) William Haggas
2012 – King’s Warrior (10/1) Peter Chapple-Hyam
2011 – Green Destiny (6/1) W Haggas
2010 – Wigmore Hall (5/1) M Bell
2009 – Sirvino (16/1) T Barron
2008 – Flying Clarets (12/1) R Fahey
2007 – Charlie Tokyo (11/1) R Fahey
2006 – Fairmile (6/1 jfav) W Swinburn
2005 – Mullins Bay (4/1 fav) AP O’Brien
2004 – Arcalis (20/1) J Howard Johnson
2003 -  Far Lane (7/1) B Hills
2002 – Vintage Premium (20/1) R Fahey

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