The outstanding Caravaggio – described by Aidan O'Brien as the fastest two-year-old he has trained – could have run his final race this season after being ruled out of Saturday's Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
Winner of the Phoenix Stakes and Coventry Stakes, the colt tweaked a muscle last month, leading his trainer to warn that he might not make the Middle Park, and that if he missed that Group 1 he may not run again in 2016.
Instead, the Round Tower Stakes winner Intelligence Cross heads the five-strong Ballydoyle Middle Park entry and he is set to try to reverse Richmond Stakes form from Goodwood in July with Blue Point and Mehmas.
Intelligence Cross finished third on that occasion as Mehmas edged out his Godolphin rival who was nevertheless installed as a 6-4 favourite for Saturday’s race on the back of his subsequent impressive Gimcrack victory.
"I'm sure Aidan will bring something over that is progressive," said Blue Point's trainer Charlie Appleby. "But our horse has already beaten half the field and if he turns up in the same condition as he did at York, he is the horse they have to beat."
Ger Lyons has left both Medicine Jack and Psychedelic Funk in the Middle Park and Velveteen in the Cheveley Park Stakes on the same card.
Listowel festival
The American star Lady Aurelia and the Lowther winner Queen Kindly are towards the top of ante-post betting lists for the fillies Group 1, although Ballydoyle could be represented by both the Albany winner, Brave Anna, and Roly Poly who landed the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes in July.
On the home front Danny Mullins enjoyed a fine Listowel festival with five winners last week including Mileys Dream on Saturday.
So it could be significant that the jockey will be on board Galway winner Father Jed when Mileys Dream makes a quick reappearance under a 6lb penalty at Ballinrobe today.
Another Rebel has form when it comes to winning after a long layoff and should be tough to beat , while Bendanella’s experience over fences could be an important factor against Listen Dear in the concluding Beginners Chase.
