Impressive Royal Ascot winner Sangarius was ruled out of Saturday’s York Stakes on the Knavesmire by Sir Michael Stoute on Wednesday, but stablemate Regal Reality will take his chance and the colt is BetVictor’s 6/4 favourite for the Group 2 contest over the extended 10f.
The classic generation have a moderate record in the race but Elarqam – who is entered in the race again at the weekend – was just touched off as a 3-y-old 12 months ago and I feel Andrew Balding’s Bangkok will appreciate the return to 10f having run well over an additional couple of furlongs at Royal Ascot last time. At 11/2 with BetVictor he looks the each way alternative to the Stoute 4-year-old.
Keep an eye out for thunderstorms overnight on Thursday easing conditions although they are not likely to be widespread. At York this evening Moftris (6.00) is fitted with cheek-pieces for the first time having run well from a poor draw at Windsor last time and William Haggas’s lightly-raced 3-y-old can make a winning handicap debut. Georgia Cox takes the ride in this Lady pro-am event and the yard love to have winners on the Knavesmire.
The feature contest is the listed fillies’ event over 10f and this represents a drop in grade for the Haggas filly Frankellina (7.30) who finished runner up in the Musidora over C&D on her seasonal reappearance when slowly away. The selection was not at her best at Royal Ascot over an additional couple of furlongs on soft ground last time, but the return to 10f and the likelihood of fast ground will suit. The unbeaten Kirstenbosch could be anything and is the obvious danger, but I feel Frankellina will be tough to beat.
At Ascot this afternoon Dubai Paradise (1.50) failed to live up to market expectations when fourth at Newmarket over 6f on debut, but she gave the impression today’s additional furlong would suit. The booking of Ryan Moore for Roger Varian’s newcomer Queen Daenerys looks significant and a market move for this beautifully bred Frankel filly should be noted.
Gimcrack entry Man Of Promise (2.25) has his first start for Charlie Appleby in the 6f Maiden and the American bred juvenile – half-brother to several winners – can make a winning debut for Godolphin.
I’m looking forward to seeing Sleeping Lion (3.00) step up to 2m for the first time in the valuable Brown Jack for James Fanshawe. The 4-y-old was slowly away and never got into the race at Ayr last time but he is 9lbs better off with top-weight Crystal King for less than 2L he was behind that rival at Wolverhampton on his reappearance.
Magnetic Charm (3.35) finished second in the Sandringham Stakes under top-weight last time narrowly failing to give Her Majesty the Queen a Royal Ascot winner. She is taken to go one better upped in class in the listed Valiant Stakes this afternoon for Sir Michael Stoute.
At Newmarket Making History (6.40) can defy a 7lbs penalty for Saeed bin Suroor in the 7f Handicap. The selection has been raised 13lbs for making all at Leicester last time and is thus 6lbs “well-in” under his penalty and Thomas Greatrex takes off a further 5lbs.
I hope it is a good evening for the Boys In Blue with Passion and Glory (7.40) taken to reverse recent Newbury form with Away He Goes given he has a 6lb pull for the half-length he was behind that rival over 10f on debut. Jockey Tom Queally could certainly do with a winner having ridden just two this flat season.
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