Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

appears to have actually earned himself a put on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot team after using down odds-on preferred Silver Knott in the Betfred Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.


The globetrotting Silver Knott was a well-supported 10-11 shot for his first start in Britain considering that ending up down the field in the 2000 Guineas 2 years ago - and he looked most likely to prevail after taking control of the lead from the pacesetting Divina Grace heading towards the last two furlongs.


However, Andrew Balding's Bellum Justum (11-2) - a Group Three winner in America in 2015 and fitted with cheekpieces for the first time after being well beaten on his Newbury comeback last month - managed to remain on Silver Knott's tail racing out of the dip and finished the more powerful to score by a length and a half under Oisin Murphy.


Balding stated: "He's a classy horse, he's got some good kind from last year and obviously the 2nd is a great horse too.


"I was thrilled, because he 'd been a huge frustration in the John Porter (at Newbury). He absolutely needed the run that day and he's taken a big advance today. It's good to see him back on track.


"I believe the cheekpieces assisted - I believe he was pretty strong at the end of the race. It was an exceptional performance.


Bellum Justum ridden by jockey Oisin Murphy on their method to winning the Betfred Jockey Club Stakes on Guineas Friday of the Betfred Guineas Festival at Newmarket Racecourse, Suffolk. Picture date: Friday May 2, 2025.


"We'll await the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have thought. He's had a difficult sufficient race there and it would be good to have runners with a possibility for King Power (owners) at the Royal meeting.


"We'll give it a go and we've constantly got the option to travel later in the year if we want to."