JOCKEY Harry Bentley cannot wait to be reunited with Limato as Wantage trainer Henry Candy’s sprinting star defends his Darley July Cup crown at Newmarket on Saturday.

Bentley rode the five-year-old when he won the Group 1 six-furlong contest last year.

But he was replaced by Ryan Moore in last month’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot where he finished a close third to The Tin Man.

In making the change, owner Paul Jacobs reasoned that the five-year-old, who returned from Meydan with pulled muscles, may remember the episode if Bentley – to whom he attached no blame – was to continue the partnership. But now with Moore set to ride Commonwealth Cup winner Caravaggio in the July Cup, Jacobs has decided Bentley should be back on Limato.

Bentley said: “Obviously I am delighted to get back on him as I have ridden him six times before. He is the best horse I have ridden.”

East Ilsley trainer Hughie Morrison praised Nearly Caught (6-4 favourite) after the gelding dug deep to go two places better than last year by landing the Listed Coral Marathon at Sandown in the hands of James Doyle. “You don’t get many braver horses than this,” Morrison said.really not a firm ground horse, but he is as hard as nails and is a delight to have.”

The master of Summerdown Stables completed a 24-1 across-the-card double when Excellent Sounds (9-1) followed up her Salisbury success by claiming a seven-furlong fillies’ handicap at Haydock under Charlie Bennett.

Morrison had struck earlier in the week with Pastoral Player, who got up in the last stride to land a seven-furlong handicap at Epsom by a neck, with Chilton-based jockey Robert Winston on board.

Blewbury trainer Eve Johnson sent out Super Julius and Silver Ghost to follow up their previous wins with victories at Brighton and Epsom respectively in the hands of Charlie Bishop.

Milton Road (4-5 favourite) and Amelia Dream (12-1) gave West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon and jockey John Egan a 22-1 double at Leicester.

Channon was also on the mark at Chepstow where the Franny Norton-ridden Ya Jammeel dead-heated with Timmy Murphy’s mount, Rammah, from Geoffrey Deacon’s Compton stables.

And Musical Art sprang a 18-1 surprise on her debut for Whatcombe trainer Paul Cole in a six-furlong fillies’ novice stakes at Newbury, with Fran Berry in the saddle.