IT is easy to see why Mekong has been all the rage all week for the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup at York this afternoon. Sir Michael Stoute’s horse is a progressive young stayer, he was seriously impressive in winning at Haydock last September on heavy ground, he will have Ryan Moore for company again, and he ran Gold Cup aspirant Dee Ex Bee to two lengths in the Group 3 Matchbook Henry II Stakes at Sandown on his debut this term.

That said, he is very short now, and Raheen House is an intriguing runner against him, having his first run for William Haggas.

The son of Sea The Stars was a high-class performer for Brian Meehan. Winner of a Bahrain Trophy as a three-year-old, he finished fourth in a Racing Post Trophy as a juvenile and in a King Edward VII Stakes as a three-year-old, and he finished second in a St Simon Stakes, also as a three-year-old.

It will be interesting to see how he goes now on his debut for William Haggas and his first run since a gelding operation, but he is a classy horse who could step forward now. Rated 114 at his peak, 4lb higher than Mekong and Austrian School, he goes well on easy ground, his best two runs have been on easy ground, and he can go well fresh, he has finished second in two of his three seasonal debuts to date. Also, he is proven at the track. He won his maiden on his only run to date at York.

This is probably his optimum trip and, if his new trainer has him at or close to his peak, he could run a big race. At 7/1, that chance is worth taking.

Sandown tip

Greenside could run well in the Randox Health Handicap at Sandown.

Henry Candy’s horse ran better than the bare form of his run at Epsom last time suggests. He was drawn wide that day, and he raced towards the rear of the field in a race in which the early pace held up well. Three of the first four home raced prominently. He was the only one of the first four who raced in midfield or worse from early.

As well as that, it appeared that he didn’t handle the downhill run around Tattenham Corner very well on the good ground. He had no real chance with the winner Gossiping, who won well, but he was only beaten a nose by Seniority for second place.

The handicapper raised him by 1lb to a mark of 95, which is still a mark off which he should be able to operate. It is still 4lbs lower than his peak.

He is eight years old, but he has raced just 18 times in his life, and he won on his penultimate run at Windsor off a mark of 90, so he still has the potential to go beyond his current mark.

As well as that, importantly, he goes well at Sandown. In three runs at the track, over today’s course and distance, he has won once and finished second once. His win was in this race two years ago when, racing off a mark of 94, just 1lb lower than today’s mark, he stayed on strongly to get the better of a progressive horse at the time in Laidback Romeo, who had won his previous three.

The ground was fast that day, but he handles easy ground well too. He is nicely drawn in stall six, and he ran well twice for Kieran Shoemark last season. He has lots in his favour.

Recommended

Raheen House, 1 point win, 3.00 York, 13/2 (generally)

Greenside, 1 point win, 3.15 Sandown, 11/2 (generally)