SATURDAY
York’s final day kicks off with the Group 3 Strensall Stakes in which just 1lb separates three horses on the clock, Enfjaar, Haunted Dream and Task Force.
This is an easier race than some Task Force has contested such as the 2000 Guineas and he’s bound to go well, but while it’s maybe going against the grain a little to opt for a horse going up in grade after being beaten in a handicap last time Enfjaar really ought to have won that Goodwood race.
The Melrose is up next in which Tactician is top of time narrowly and the winner of two of his last three races, so bringing a very progressive profile into the race, while the following City Of York Stakes is another very tight race on the clock with next to nothing separating Kinross, Art Power, Audience and Shouldvebeenaring.
This is virtually a repeat of the Lennox Stakes last time where Audience led home Art Power after the pair got a head start on Kinross. Kept in closer touch this time, Kinross is just about up to winning this, but Lake Forest is one I’ve had my eye for this race for several weeks and though he’s 5lb to find on time he may well do that now tacking seven furlongs for the first time.
The Sky Bet Ebor only just filled but that won’t bother Brian Ellison (whose string is in excellent form) or David O’Meara given they saddle the top two on time, Onesmoothoperator, who seems sure to get the strong pace he craves, and Epic Poet who was a big eyecatcher last time.
Albasheer is top on the clock in the Constantine Handicap, the fifth of six races on the card sponsored by Sky Bet, but a high draw and a mark 7lb higher than he shared the spoils from last year makes his task no easy one.
The listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes looks a good opportunity for the time-topping Mr Lightside to go one better than in the Molecomb, but the horse who is second on the clock here, Vingegaard, might well have pushed him close in that race had he not completely blown the start before running the fastest final furlong.
Just the 17 runners to contend with in the final race but perhaps not a contest to run scared of with the horse best in on the clock, Paradias, 4lb clear of his rivals after a comprehensive win under a big weight at Goodwood last time.
One potential negative is his record at York, a track at which he has yet to reach the first four, but given he’s only run here twice that might be judging him too critically. Killybegs Warrior is next best on time and does at least boast good course form to his name.
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