The three-year-old sprint handicap which is the centrepiece of York’s card on Saturday is always a good way to limber up for even sterner challenges which lie ahead at Royal Ascot next week, and the latest 22-runner renewal is no exception.
The more obvious possibilities include Quinault and Washington Heights, first and second respectively in a strongly run race at Newmarket in May, along with Quintus Arrius and Catch The Paddy, who are both stable companions of Washington Heights at Kevin Ryan’s stable.
Ryan is generally a trainer to follow on the Knavesmire but it is a concern that he has saddled only one winner from his last 43 runners, and Eminency (3.40), third home in Quinault’s race at Newmarket, makes most appeal at the likely odds. He is 4lb better off than Quinault having been beaten just over a length and ran well in the circumstances after a slow start at Windsor earlier this month.
Clive Cox will presumably have been working on Eminency’s tardiness at the gate and the grey is worth an interest at around 12-1 to give Cox a second successive victory in this race after Harry Three’s impressive win 12 months ago.
York 2.00 Kihavah’s course-and-distance win from a 5lb lower mark is comfortably the best piece of form on offer and the booking of Jody Townend is another big plus for the six-year-old’s prospects.
Chester 1.35 Master Franca 2.10 Vintage Clarets 2.45 Tuxedo Junction 3.20 Sophia’s Starlight 3.55 Capone 4.30 Ventura Express 5.00 Tio Mio
Sandown 1.40 Sudden Ambush 2.15 Bodorgan (nb) 2.50 Great State 3.25 Bussento 4.00 Cracksking 4.35 Sonemos 5.05 Alpine Stroll
Hexham 1.50 Beaumesnil 2.25 Glengeever 3.10 Our Laura B 3.45 Check My Pulse 4.20 Velasco 4.55 Hapy La Vie 5.30 Pateen
Bath 1.56 Glenister 2.30 Yellow Lion 3.00 Unbreak My Heart 3.35 Crow’s Nest 4.10 Lunario 4.45 My Ambition 5.15 Russian Rumour
York 2.00 Kihavah 2.35 Fortamour 3.05 Israr 3.40 Eminency (nap) 4.15 Twilight Romance 4.50 Mostawaa 5.25 The Green Man
Uttoxeter 5.40 Soldat Forte 6.10 Present Storm 6.40 Dancingontheedge 7.10 Line Of Descent 7.40 Halifax 8.10 Bluebella 8.40 Melleray Hill
Leicester 5.55 Ebt’s Guard 6.25 South Dakota Sioux 6.55 Baileysgutfeeling 7.25 Ivy Avenue 7.55 Raven’s Applause 8.25 Motasaleeta 9.00 Grandfather Tom
Sandown Park 2.15 The lightly raced Bodorgan, one of just two three-year-olds in the field, is the eye-catcher here. He progressed by the run as a juvenile, made a solid return to action at Haydock last month and runs off the same mark here. It also looks significant that William Buick comes in for the ride, as he has a 22% strike-rate and shows a 29-point profit to level stakes since the start of 2019 when riding for Charlie Hills.
York 2.35 The consistent Fortamour would have gone close at Ripon last time with a bit more luck in running and the seven-year-old has been dropped another 1lb in the ratings since.
Sandown Park 2.50 Great State has made rapid strides this season and completed a hat-trick in the Listed Westow Stakes at York last month. He stopped the clock in a strong time and should extend his winning streak to four.
Doncaster 2.05 Yaaser 2.40 Salsa Dancer 3.15 Vaguely Royal 3.50 Ancient Times 4.25 Laser Guided 5.00 B Associates 5.35 Wilde And Dandy
Salisbury 2.15 Moondial 2.50 Under The Twilight (nb) 3.25 Mission To Moon 4.00 Musical Mystery (nap) 4.35 Malka 5.10 Dukeman 5.45 Gallimimus
York 3.05 Stamina is the obvious question mark over Israr as he steps up to a mile-and-three-quarters for the first time, but his dam, Taghrooda, won the Oaks and King George and, at around 6-4, it is a chance worth taking.
Chester 3.20 A draw in stall two looks ideal for the front-running Sophia’s Starlight. She won with a little more to spare than the margin might suggest at Wetherby this month and is running off just a 3lb higher mark.
