Pace Angles:
A steady to even gallop looks likely. Fireblade and Terrorise are confirmed front-runners and could contest the lead early. The rest are generally ridden with patience, suggesting this won’t be a burn-up.

Draw Angles:
No major draw bias over this trip at York, although extreme high or low draws can be slightly disadvantageous if trapped wide in big fields. Mid-to-low draws (5-10) hold a small positional advantage.

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Strongest Contenders:

SPIRIT MIXER – Proven and consistent. Beat Dancing In Paris at Newcastle and ran a solid race in the Northumberland Plate. Form has been boosted. Track and trip suit ideally and he’s a past performer in this race. Tactically versatile and holds form. Rating: Proven.

DANCING IN PARIS – Progressive until Goodwood, where he was just denied behind a subsequent Group horse. Strong stayer, solid 2m form this year. Likely race shape suits him if held up just off midfield. Rating: Proven and progressing.

ALIGN THE STARS – Patchy season but showed clear signs of revival last time. Profile matches the race type: progressive middle-distance 3yo now stretching to 2m+. From a yard that places their stayers shrewdly. Rating: Promising.

FIREBLADE – Rapidly improving stayer who took apart a decent field at Ascot. Career-best performance LTO and looks open to further progress at the trip. Unexposed over staying distances. Rating: Progressive.

SANTORINI STAR – Smart filly, building a solid profile. Still a bit to prove in true staying test, but improving and from an in-form yard. Tactically handy and may sit close to pace. Rating: Promising.

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Main Dangers:

ALMUNHIT – Has run career-best RPRs on his last three starts, including when second to Fireblade. Lightly raced over this trip and the pace setup could suit. Rating: Progressive.

WISE EAGLE – Last year’s winner, 5lb higher, but arrives off the back of some solid hurdles and flat efforts. Not as unexposed as others but clearly likes the place. Rating: Proven.

ARTISAN DANCER – Solid C&D form, may get outclassed by the truly progressive ones but honest and runs to mark consistently. Rating: Exposed but honest.

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Interesting Outsiders:

TERRORISE – Front-running profile and improving from low base. Needs to find more but progressing. Rating: Promising.

ALPHONSE LE GRANDE – Irish raider who could be underestimated. Tends to go well fresh and better in big fields. Dangerous if kept in touch. Rating: Dangerous lurker.

MAGHLAAK – Inconsistent but has thrown in some big efforts. Must improve again, but stamina is a question mark. Rating: Unreliable.

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Runner Scores and Suitability Analysis:

• Spirit Mixer: 9/10 – Well suited to conditions and race shape.
• Dancing In Paris: 9/10 – Solid staying form; must sit handy.
• Fireblade: 8/10 – Unexposed; pace angle.
• Align The Stars: 8/10 – Peak mark, staying test suits.
• Almuhit: 8/10 – Progressive profile, still some upside.
• Santorini Star: 7/10 – Improving, stamina to prove.
• Wise Eagle: 7/10 – Solid but vulnerable to improvers.
• Artisan Dancer: 6/10 – Honest but exposed.
• Alphonse Le Grande: 6/10 – Capable, needs strong pace.
• Charging Thunder: 6/10 – Stamina concern.
• Maghlaak: 5/10 – Unreliable, stamina and consistency doubts.
• Artistic Star: 5/10 – Trip a question; lacks recent spark.
• Terrorise: 5/10 – Potential front-runner, tough ask.

Keep an eye on the market for support or big drifts for runners returning from layoffs of 90+ days.
Watch out for in-form sprinters returning quickly; they can be hot.

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Each-Way Angles:
With 14 runners, each-way play is viable. Align The Stars and Almuhit look solid options.

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Private Tissue Estimate:

• Spirit Mixer – 9/2
• Dancing In Paris – 11/2
• Fireblade – 13/2
• Align The Stars – 8/1
• Almuhit – 10/1
• Santorini Star – 12/1
• Wise Eagle – 12/1
• Alphonse Le Grande – 14/1
• Artisan Dancer – 16/1
• Charging Thunder – 18/1
• Terrorise – 20/1
• Maghlaak – 20/1
• Artistic Star – 22/1

Market watch advised for runners making their 2nd start.

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Summary + Professional Punter View (Smart Play):
A competitive staying handicap with a blend of proven and progressive types. The pace looks honest, favouring mid-division runners who can travel and stay.

Smart Play:

• Win Bet: Spirit Mixer – Loves York, thrives in big fields, and arrives in top form.
• Each-Way Saver: Align The Stars – Peak form last time, bred for the test, and looks like he’s about to peak over staying trips.