Clive Cox describes Positive as ‘a nice horse who is still on an upward curve’.

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CLIVE Cox has given an upbeat report on Positive ahead of his rematch with the unbeaten Pinatubo in the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The thrice-raced Positive won on his debut at Salisbury before running on well to finish five lengths adrift of 2000 Guineas favourite Pinatubo in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The son of Dutch Art followed up with a narrow victory in the Group 3 Betway Solario Stakes at Sandown Park last month.

Cox is hopeful his charge will narrow the previous five-length margin with red-hot favourite Pinatubo who heads the betting at 1-3 for the seven-furlong contest that carries total prize money of £523,750.

The Dewhurst has attracted a field of 11 runners that includes Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes scorer, Wichita, supplemented at a cost of £40,000 and is one of five runners for Aidan O’Brien.

“Positive has done really well since he won the Solario,” Cox said of his charge who is best-priced at 16-1 for Saturday’s feature race. “He had a proper race that day and also impressed us very much when coming up against Pinatubo on his previous run.

“Like everyone else I have been extremely taken with Pinatubo, there’s no disputing his quality, but I am hopeful that Positive can show the necessary improvement to close the gap to him on Saturday.

“We have had a dry summer, so my opinion may be based more on theory than fact, but I would like to think that Positive will be at home on the type of easier ground he is likely to encounter on Saturday.

“The Darley Dewhurst is a benchmark race which points forward to next year’s Classic contenders and, while I appreciate it is a hot contest again this year, I am very happy that I have a colt good enough to be in the line-up.

“My only two previous runners have both been placed [Kodi Bear was second in 2014 and Xtension third in 2009] and Positive is a nice horse who is still on an upward curve.”

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