GROUP 2 GREAT VOLTIGEUR STAKES (WEDNESDAY)

IDAHO will bid to uphold the form of both Derby and Irish Derby, and he is the clear pick on form, but Aidan O’Brien has warned that he’s had an easy time of things since his second to Harzand at the Curragh, and he may be vulnerable from a fitness perspective.

If that is the case, then the most obvious beneficiary is John Gosden’s Muntahaa, who was a fine third in the King Edward VII at the Royal Meeting having only made his debut in April, and he’s exactly the kind of late-developing stayer with which the trainer excels.

He looked one to follow over longer trips when powering away with a maiden at Kempton in June, and has St Leger stamped on him like “Brighton” on a stick of rock. He’s worth backing ante-post for the Doncaster showpiece in anticipation of another career best here.

GROUP 1 COOLMORE NUNTHORPE STAKES (FRIDAY)

At the time of writing, it would seem that superstar juveniles Lady Aurelia and Caravaggio are set to clash in the Prix Morny rather than take up their Nunthorpe entries, which robs the meeting of what would have been its most intriguing clash, but things can change quickly and a change of plan from either side could throw the market into disarray.

I may sound like a broken record having put her up several times before, but I still find it hard to understand why the ante-post market continually underestimates last year’s winner Mecca’s Angel, probably because she has a reputation as a mudlark. But as she has shown several times in the past, she simply needs to get her toe in to produce exceptional form, and it’s rather ironic that she ran her only poor race when the heavens opened at Royal Ascot, although it transpired that her flop in the King’s Stand was due to her coming into season rather than a failure to handle conditions underfoot.

The weather forecast suggests that, just like a year ago, thunderstorms may hit York around Thursday when temperatures are set to soar, and it would only take a few millimetres overnight to ensure her participation. She beat what many considered the banker of the meeting last year, Acapulco, and she’s never really got the credit for what was a phenomenal performance.

Limato is clearly an exceptional performer, but given his trainer still sees him as a possible Group 1 winner at a mile, it’s very hard to imagine he’ll be comfortable with the drop to the minimum trip here, and he looks poor value at the head of the market.

GROUP 2 GIMCRACK STAKES (SATURDAY)

No bookmaker has been naïve enough to price up the week’s big juvenile event for colts with so many of the top-rated runners having other engagements, and it’s a hard race to preview as a result, but one trainer who will be firing every available bullet is Kevin Ryan. He has won the Gimcrack twice in the last few years with Blaine and Astaire, and he can be expected to unleash course-and-distance winner Broken Stones, who belied pre-race drift to win comfortably in a minor event at Newmarket on his most recent start.

He’s clearly very talented, but is probably better even than he’s shown to date, overcoming notable greenness on his debut, and getting himself into real lather prior to winning last time. Ryan needs to keep a lid on the son of Requinto if he’s to fulfil all of that potential, but he’s done well with similar types in the past, and Broken Stones will surely go well if he doesn’t fret his chance away beforehand. It’s encouraging that he was able to run to form despite doing so much wrong prior to the race at Newmarket, and it may be that he’s one of those who does best when on edge, so punters shouldn’t tear up their dockets if he is awash with sweat behind the stalls.

BETFRED EBOR (SATURDAY)

I was very keen on the chances of Seamour in this a year ago, but he failed to make the cut before showing that he doesn’t stay beyond two miles in the Doncaster Cup, and he again looked to find the trip just beyond him when a tremendous second in the Northumberland Plate, where he dashed clear over a furlong out before being collared in the dying strides. I’m convinced that this shorter trip is exactly what he wants, so it was disappointing to see him run a rare poor race over track and trip in the John Smith’s Silver Cup, although he’d endured a hard race on the tapeta prior to that, and gave the impression he hadn’t quite recovered from it.

He’s guaranteed a run this time around, and looks worth a tickle at the general 14/1 offered ante-post for the Ebor, but I can’t help but think he’ll be available at bigger odds after declarations, especially with that one duff effort staring out of the page. Back him at the best overnight price, and you can be fairly sure I’ll be banging the drum again in next week’s copy.

HANDICAPPERS TO WATCH FOR

Kibaar has taken time to click for Kevin Ryan, due in part to a stalls aversion, but he bounced out without a bother at Musselburgh last time, and duly made all the running in a competitive Class 3 affair to show himself back to his best. He’ll be up in grade should he take up his entry in the opening race of the meeting on Wednesday, but the handicapper has only raised him 3lb for that, and he’d dropped him almost the same amount for a non-staying effort over an extended six furlongs at the Curragh prior to that. He’s certainly handicapped to win more races, and hopefully Musselburgh was a sign that he’s getting over his issues with starting-gate claustrobhobia.

Eshtiaal wasn’t seen to best effect on soft ground at Royal Ascot, and is a much better horse when hearing his hooves rattle.

Gordon Elliott has taken the trouble to book local rider Graham Gibbons for the gelding’s intended outing in a staying handicap (the Fine Equinity Stakes) on Wednesday, and while he’ll have to cope with any number of progressive stayers of younger vintage, a big effort is expected under what should be ideal conditions.