WITH York’s biggest fixture of the season taking place next week, I’ve tried to dig out a few runners who might offer a bit of ante-post value for punters, with the intention of finding an overpriced selection on each of the four days of the Knavesmire spectacular. The weather looks set fair for the week in God’s Own County as the locals like to think of it, and I am expecting good or quicker ground for the entire fixture. Because long-range weather forecasts are never wrong, are they?

Thursday

Sky Bet Lowther Stakes

America Queen

(Richard Hughes)

Not many juveniles can win a six-furlong contest on fast turf by 12 lengths, but that’s exactly what America Queen did on her debut at Haydock last month, storming clear of some modest rivals to win by that margin despite jockey Billy Loughnane just giving her one tap behind the saddle. Richard Hughes has really come of age as a handler this season and he has always thought America Queen was his fastest juvenile, which she proved in great style, with Timeform adjudging her superior to the others by upwards of 40lb on the day.

York provides a similar test to Haydock and while some will say that the daughter of Havana Grey won’t be able to boss proven group fillies so easily, I doubt she needs to dominate and there is a strong possibility she will show better form when able to sit just off a strong gallop. There is certainly plenty of untapped potential with her and the flying grey can take this en route to a crack at the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes.

Saturday

Sky Bet City of York Stakes

Maranoa Charlie

(Christopher Head)

The sight of the Reg Bond colours steaming up the straight on the Knavesmire is a familiar one and although Reg is no longer with us, Bond Thoroughbred continues to operate, run by sons Charlie and Graham, with a view to keeping his vision alive. Most of the Bond horses are homebreds, so it’s intriguing that Maranoa Charlie was bought specifically with this race in mind.

Formerly owned by a partnership headed by Peter Maher, Maranoa Charlie won the Prix Djebel on his return and the Group 3 Prix Paul de Moussac at Longchamp in June. Since then he’s been sold privately to Bond Thoroughbred and been beaten narrowly by Woodshauna in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs at Deauville, albeit finishing just in front of The Lion In Winter, who was bouncing back to form in third. He has form on soft ground but has plenty of speed and seems likely to be better suited by a sound surface, having taken a heavier beating from Woodshauna in the Prix Texanita (Time For Sandals second) in May when the ground was sticky.

A high-class front runner with speed and stamina for seven furlongs, Maranoa Charlie looks an excellent buy for the Bonds and he looks to have form claims second to none among the expected runners.

Hopefully the above will give you some food for thought ahead of York, and perhaps a winner or two.