YORK SATURDAY

1:50 SKY BET AND SYMPHONY GROUP STRENSALL STAKES (GROUP 3) 1M 177Y

It’s interesting that Seniority runs here having been pulled out of the mile handicap here on Thursday, but the bottom line is that this appears to rest between last year’s winner Mustashry and the consisten Lord Glitters, with a narrow preference for the latter on the back of solid efforts at the highest level in recent months.

It wouldn’t do to get carried away with the overall form of either the Queen Anne or the Sussex Stakes, which were weaker this year than they have been for a while, but they still represent the pinnacle of the pattern for British milers in the summer, and David O’Meara’s French import deserves enormous credit for finishing second at both Ascot and Goodwood.

He’s yet to race beyond a mile since he was acquired for €270,000 from the yard of Christophe Lotoux, but the majority of his form in France came at trips beyond nine furlongs, so there is a chance the intermediate distance will bring about a little more improvement. It certainly shouldn’t be an issue for the son of Whipper, whose half-sister Lady John John was placed behind Limini over a mile and a half.

2:25 SKY BET MELROSE (HERITAGE HANDICAP) 1M 5F 188Y

Mekong must be of interest here on pedigree alone, the son of Frankel being out of the useful stayer Ship’s Biscuit, herself a half-sister to Park Hill winner Hi Calypso, as well as Warringah, who was a big fancy for this race a few years ago when the meeting was rained off. Warringah was beaten only a length in the Ebor itself the following year behind Sesenta despite carrying top weight, and is typical not only of the family, but of the type of horse Philip Newton has been breeding and racing for some time. In fact, it would be no surprise if this race has been pencilled in for Mekong since the day Ship’s Biscuit was scanned in foal!

Sir Michael Stoute won the opening race on this card a year ago with a horse which had won at Chelmsford on his previous start, and I find it intriguing that the master trainer should have chosen to take a similar route with the progressive Mekong, who beat a well-regarded Sir Mark Prescott handicapper there three weeks ago, the pair pulling clrear of some useful rivals, and the margins involved wouldn’t have looked out of place on a National Hunt card in midwinter. Four of those who trailed in his wake had arrived at Chelmsford on the back of wins, and the well-beaten third has since been placed in the Shergar Cup Classic.

Polytrack form is never easy to analyse in respect to turf targets, but Mekong is bred to excel over this sort of trip on grass, and he looks very fairly treated in light of his latest win. In bypassing all the major meetings with his thus far, Sir Michael has been able to keep his talent hidden to some degree, and it’s expected to shine out today.

3:00 SKY BET CITY OF YORK STAKES (GROUP 3) 7F

A race with pretentions to Group 1 status, and while the field size may be a little disappointing, the quality of runner isn’t, with Expert Eye setting a lofty standard after his wide-margin win over this trip at Royal Ascot.

He certainly did nothing wrong when second to Lightning Spear in the Sussex Stakes subsequently, and the return to seven furlongs is a big positive, the son of Acclamation appearing to all the world as a specialist at the trip, for all his connections desire for him to prove himself over a mile is understandable given how unfashionable the intermediate trip is.

Suedois is a worthy adversary, however, and the key to him appears to be racing around a bend. For a couple of seasons he was campaigned as a sprinter on straight tracks and got the reputation of a frustrating performer, but a step up to seven furlongs and further gave him the opportunity to race around a bend, and what a difference it made. Placed efforts in the Lennox Stakes and in this corresponding event were the springboard to success in the Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown and the Group 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.

He then beat leading domestic milers Ribchester and Roly Poly when fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and his best efforts this season have again come when not faced with a straight track. He’s arguably best at a mile given this set-up, but retains plenty of tactical speed, and can give the favourite plenty to think about.

It’s tempting to conclude it’s a no-bet race given those considerations, but I think the race will be a fairly run contest in which the class horses will have things run to suit, and the suggestion is a straight forecast.

3:40 SKY BET EBOR (HERITAGE HANDICAP) 1M 5F 188Y

A high draw has been no bar to success in the Ebor in recent years. Since 2000, only Mephisto and Litigant have come out of single-figure stalls, and all but three of the winners have been drawn in 14 or higher. That suggests that Muntahaa’s draw in 21 isn’t the millstone it first appears, and John Gosden’s gelding is an intriguing runner back up to this sort of trip having been campaigned at shorter this year.

He ran a cracker over a mile and a quarter when third to Monarchs Glen in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot, and was again doing his best work late when fourth in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July Meeting. He didn’t get home when a strong fancy in the 2016 St Leger, but was given a suicidal ride to get to the front ahead of the pacemaker that day, and had previously won a handicap off a mark of 108 at Chester.

He is just 1lb higher now and has been nursed back to his best by John Gosden after he’d threatened to go the wrong way temperamentally last summer. Gelding has helped him, as has experimenting with tactics, and as long as he is ridden as if his draw is not a hindrance, then I can see him going very close indeed.

RECOMMENDED

MEKONG 2:25 York – 1pt win @ 7/1 (general)

EXPERT EYE/SUEDOIS 3:00 York – 1pt SF/C

MUNTAHAA 3:40 York – 1pt e/w @ 20/1 (Paddy Power - 6 places)