The horse racing broadcaster has five selections on offer for the final day at the Ebor meeting, including the Group 1 City of York Stakes.
The final day of York makes up five of the seven races on ITV, with the feature handicap of the week holding centre stage.
Race tempos are something I personally set a lot of store by and sometimes just showing the closing stages of a race can be a little misleading. When watching Hipop De Loire climbing all over the back of runners in last year’s Ebor, he was immediately on my short list for this time around. Watch the whole race however and it is less convincing because the leaders went too fast, meaning the first eight horses home all came from the back of the field. There is no doubt Hipop De Loire was unlucky not to be closer on the day but unless he is ridden more forward there is a doubt as to whether he will get the same pace set up this time around. It is worth mentioning this group also includes Kihavah (second), Oneforthegutter (third) and Onesmoothoperator (seventh).
As a result, I am looking for a more forward run style this year and think LONDON CITY 12/1 (3.35 York) could fit the bill. I have to admit, the fact that Ryan Moore has chosen Queenstown slightly surprised me as whilst there was little between them last time, London City finished the stronger from a worse tactical position. Stall 18 may mean Sean Levey has to work a little hard early on, but hopefully those on the speed will face far less pressure in the middle stages and can have more petrol in reserve up the straight to repel the closers.
Three-year-olds can no longer run in the Ebor but have their own version in the Melrose where there could well be a victory in their colours courtesy of GOLDEN HANDSHAKE 5/1 (2.25 York). The maiden race at Nottingham in which he finished an eye catching second has been a profitable one for the yard as it also featured Tenability who went on to land a hat trick. Golden Handshake can repeat the feat after winning in maiden company at Lingfield and on his handicap debut at Newbury. He showed a smart turn of foot that day before seeming to idle a little in front, a useful trait for staying ahead of the grader. Novelista will no doubt try to put his proven stamina to good use, but Golden Handshake may have the better tactical speed.
William Haggas also has a decent chance of a second win at the meeting with the same horse in BULLET POINT 5/1 (1.50 York) who tries to back up from his win on Thursday. A big strapping horse, this double pronged assault seems to have been the plan for a while and he has long appealed as a Group horse running in handicaps. He is bound for a trip to Australia after this so has time to recover and the record of the stable trying this is in the past is a positive one. The record for horses backing up in two days or shorter is 7/18 A/E 1.82 and 3/6 for horses that had won the first of the two races. Hopefully it is not a one-way trip to Australia for Bullet Point as he is one of my favourite horses in training.
The City of York has been upgraded to Group 1 status this year and the appearance of ROSALLION 11/8 (3.00 York) and his Sussex Stakes conqueror Qirat will do much to help cement the race’s status. Rosallion, like all the others, sat too far out of his ground that day and produced a pretty explosive final three furlongs to suggest the step back in trip will be no problem, especially on his favoured fast ground and with Quinault certain to ensure a decent gallop. He has been unlucky not to have won this season and providing there are no after effects of the slight setback that kept him out of the Jacques Le Marois at Deauville last Sunday, he can put matters right here.
The last of the 20 live races shown from York this week is a really tricky sprint where POCKLINGTON 5/1 (4.10 York) and Strike Red head the short list. It is the lower draw and the form of trainer Geoff Oldroyd this season that tips things in favour of Pocklington. There was little between the pair in the Dash here in July when they were fifth and sixth behind Elmonjed and Strike Red went on to finish a highly creditable second in the Stewards Cup. Geoff Oldroyd does not have many runners but has had an excellent last couple of years and 12/40 (A/E 2.25) in 2025 so hopefully can improve that still further here.
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