York
1.50pm
Escobar
He has a bit to do in this company but he wasn’t far off a career-best when third at Goodwood last time and won here last month, too. This will actually be the first time he has raced beyond a mile, albeit it’s not that much further, but you wouldn’t have thought that would be a factor. He has a tough task but at least he couldn’t come here in better nick.
2.25pm
Universal Order
This is the first time I have ridden him since he won on his debut and he has progressed nicely since, coming here after a Bath win over 1m2f last time. He has had a pretty low-key prep, and he steps up the best part of a half-a-mile here, so he is totally unexposed at the trip. To be honest, his pedigree doesn’t shout stamina at you, but I am sure David knows what he is doing.
3.40pm
Raymond Tusk
He faces no easy task from a mark of 111 and from his wide draw, but he probably deserves that rating and he is actually relatively lightly-raced. He is clearly a very classy horse on his day, winning a Group 2 for me last autumn, and he hasn’t been disgraced in his three starts in Group company this term from trips ranging from 1m4f to 2m4f. A strongly-run 1m6f could be ideal for him, but this looks tough.
Windsor
6.20pm
Raakib Alhawa
He is a horse that we have always thought a bit of, but he does need to up his game to be winning this. He was obviously highly-tried after beating Dashing Willoughby on his debut, taking in the Vertem Futurity, and has not really shone in two starts this season. That said, his run in the Heron Stakes wasn’t bad and there is a fair bit stamina on the distaff side of his pedigree, so hopefully the step up in trip will suit. And he does look a lot better now than he did earlier in the year, so I am looking forward to seeing what he can do.
6.50pm
Desert Encounter
I thought he would go close at Goodwood last time, as he was working and looking great at home, and ready to hit his peak after two starts following his stint in Dubai earlier in the year. And he delivered in style there. He picks up a 3lb penalty for that win and he meets some good horses here, but he is two-from-two at this track – he won the 1m3f race on this card last season – and hopefully he can prove equally as effective over 1m2f than he was over 1m4f at Goodwood last time. He does like a pace to aim at, and hopefully Matterhorn will provide that.
7.20pm
Rock The Cradle
He didn’t show too much for me in two starts last season but he has left that form behind at three, and got off the mark at Sandown last time. A 5lb rise for a neck win looks plenty, though they did pull clear of the third, but he should still go close, I’d have thought.
7.50pm
Ghayadh
He has shown very little this year, but he has changed stables and the handicapper has given him a real chance by dropping him 5lb since his last run. That allows him to get into this 0-75, and he is now a very well-handicapped horse on his 2017 form. If the new surroundings have done the trick, you can definitely make a case for him. I see they have taken the tongue-tie off, too.
