Yorks Summary And Saturday Suggestions

ALL THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN

I have been busy at York this week as you can imagine so my knowledge of all the news is a bit behind the curve so short and sweet once more this week.

The weather has been a dampener in more ways than one with the rain surprisingly (well, to me anyway) getting into the ground in seconds and changing the going to far softer than I had envisaged. That didn’t stop best bet of the meeting form landing the odds at Sun Goddess strolled home alone at Evens – and yes, that was incredible value as I had her 24lb clear on official ratings, a Group One winner of the Phoenix Stakes running in a very valuable sales race – licence to print money anyone?

Earlier in the week the supposed duel between Ombudsman and Constitution River failed to materialise and I will leave you to draw your own conclusions as to why? Many on social media are blaming William Buck (Ombudsman) for failing to find a clear run, but for me that’s racing and these things happen – you can tell I didn’t have a bet can’t you?

On Thursday Kalpana took her career earnings to closer to £3 million after holding on to take the Yorkshire Oaks by a rapidly diminishing short head from Spana Nua, giving those who took the odds-on a heart attack in the process, but she is clearly a machine as this was her fourth Group One. Andrew Balding can do little wrong at the moment meaning all his runners need a second glance, and I have noted that ahead of my Saturday suggestions!

On to the racing…

Saturday Racing

1.50pm York

York has now gone soft and I have hopefully factored that in to my calculations – but after a long hot summer all the recent form is from races on a very different surface. Damysus heads the market for the York opener at 1.50pm over nine furlongs and that may be partly down to his third to Juddmonte International winner Item here at York last month, though he was beaten over three lengths. First-time cheekpieces may bring a fraction of improvement, but I note three-year-olds have won the last two renewals and at a bigger price I prefer Hankelow. Karl Burke’s son of Night Of Thunder is no back number, winning the Group Three Autumn Stakes as a two-year-old, and starting his 2026 campaign with a length and a quarter third to Rayif in the Group One Poule d’Essai des Poulins (French 2000 guineas) at Longchamp, not bad for his first start of the season. The winner has come out and won the Prix Jacques le Maroir since so that form is also top-drawer, and we can ignore his last run in the Prix du Jockey club (French Derby) where he simply didn’t stay. Back in trip, down in class, and with solid form on ground with plenty of juice in it, I can see him winning – though I will settle for a top-three finish.

2.25pm York

All us punters spend our lives looking for the infamous “Group horse in a handicap” but this afternoon we actually have one with evidence to back it up. Jospeh O’Brien sends Limestone over the sea to take in the Melrose handicap, and if he is at his best he seems to have an outstanding chance. Wins at Cork (in a conditions race), Navan (Listed class) and at Royal Ascot (in the Group Two Queen’s Vase) prove he has the ability needed, even if he was outgunned last time out in the Grand Prix de Paris (Group one). That form is hot with winner Maltese Cross taking the Great Voltigeur by a couple of lengths on Wednesday, and runner-up Ancient Egypt acquitting himself well at Saratoga in Grade One company, and back up to a mile and three-quarters here I am hoping he can give the weight away to these rivals with Ryan Moore picking up the ride.

5.20pm York

The colours of Juddmonte have carried all before them this week and for a risky last bet I give you Accredit in the closing race of the Festival at 5.20pm. On the down side, the son of Dubawi is having his first race of the season, but on the positive side, he won his last race by 11 lengths at Haydock on good to soft ground. He also won on soft over the stiff Sandown mile, so there is every hope that conditions will suit, IF he stays the mile and a quarter plus. Colin Keane is over to ride which is another good thing, and as I felt he might make up to a Group horse, the fact that he races in a handicap today off a mark of 99 surprises me a little, either he isn’t as good as I hoped – or we have another Group horse in a handicap!  

Sean’s Suggestion:

Hankelow 1.50pm York and Accredit 5.20pm York in an each way double.