The horse racing broadcaster offers his picks for Wednesday at York, including one in the Juddmonthe International.
A superb start to the Ebor meeting at York, with five races on ITV including a tremendous renewal of the Juddmonte International.
The meeting kicks off with a maximum field right across the Knavesmire and, while the sample size for such a large field is small, a lower draw has seemed an advantage. DEMOCRACY DIILEMMA
10/1
(13:50 York) was withdrawn at Goodwood after getting upset in the stalls but had previously shown blazing speed both in the Dash at Epsom and in a Listed race here at York when only run down late after dwelling from the stalls. There is a lot of pace, and he cannot afford to miss the start, but he is well drawn and showed at Epsom he doesn’t have to lead.
The Acomb stakes features a clash between the Godolphin and Coolmore powerhouses with debut winners Ruling Court and The Lion In Winter locking horns. Ruling Court cost no less than €2.3m from the Arqana Breeze Ups before winning at Sandown in impressive fashion, while The Lion In Winter has a far stouter pedigree and was not even the stable’s first string when scoring at the Curragh. He looks a terrific prospect for the future, but at 6f the scales tip in favour of RULING COURT
1/1
(14:25 York) and his more precocious preparation.
William Buick could be in line for a quick-fire double courtesy of KING’S GAMBIT
2/1
(15:00 York) who can make the most of the 5lb weight concession he receives from Irish Derby winner Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur Stakes. My view is partly driven by the ghost of Kew Gardens back in 2018 who was beaten in this for Aidan O’Brien under a similar penalty before going on to win the St. Leger. The suspicion is this may be a stepping stone to Doncaster rather than a main objective whilst King’s Gambit has been aimed at this to specifically test his 12f credentials. His run here last time was farcically slowly run and best forgotten, and if he can reproduce the barnstorming finish he displayed in the Hampton Court behind Jayarebe, who has proved himself as a Group performer since, he can take this.
The Juddmonte International itself certainly lives up to its billing with representatives from Ireland, France, and Japan in the lineup. The fact so many oppose Derby winner City of Troy suggests there are a few who are not yet fully convinced by his performances this year, and given he is a short price against better older horses than he faced in the Eclipse, I share the view from a punting perspective. The two most interesting runners are the French pair Calandagan and ZARAKEM
10/1
(15:35 York). Calandagan’s romp in the King Edward VII was impressive, and he would give Francis Graffard a timely big win for the Aga Khan, but Zarakem looks overpriced on his own Ascot second in the Prince of Wales’s where he chased home Auguste Rodin, where amongst those he beat included Alflaila and Royal Rhyme.
Another big field, this time of stayers, rounds off the terrestrial coverage where KNIGHTSWOOD
7/1
(16:10 York) is worth another chance after his luckless passage at Goodwood. He is unexposed at the trip, and with the races usually developing up the centre of the racecourse at York, he may have more options this time to get a clear run.
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