Going: Good to Firm (good in places)
Feature Races: The Ebor, City of York Stakes (G1), Strensall Stakes (G3)

1.50 – Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (Group 3, 1m177y, £170,000)

A small but quality field with proven milers stepping into this intermediate trip.

• King’s Gambit (Charlton) – Top RPR 126 and TF 122 sets the standard. Versatile ground record, and trainer in solid form (54% RTF). Has been mixing Group 1 and Group 2 company – this is easier.
• Skukuza (Dunlop) – Consistent 120 horse, strong RPR profile but often finds one too good. Needs pace to collapse to deliver his late surge.
• Bullet Point (Haggas) – Lightly raced, upward curve. TF 123 with “Hot” trainer form (75% RTF). Big improver angle.
• Checkandchallenge (Knight) – Best RPR 122 but inconsistent, stable quieter than rivals.

📊 Verdict:
King’s Gambit is the proven class, but Bullet Point looks the upwardly mobile improver from a stable in form. Skukuza is a solid each-way angle if the race sets up for closers.

Tissue: King’s Gambit 9/4, Bullet Point 11/4, Skukuza 7/2, Checkandchallenge 7/1.

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2.25 – Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Hcp, 1m6f, £170,000)

Traditionally the St Leger trial in disguise for 3yo stayers.

• Tarriance (Balding) – Fav (7/2). Hot form, strong staying pedigree. Looks the right profile – progressive, top stable (64% RTF).
• Pole Star (Johnston) – “p” rating (TF 110p). 11/2 in early books. Johnston targets this race, improvers thrive here.
• Golden Handshake (Haggas) – Another “p” horse, and Haggas has an excellent record in this race (2 wins last 6 years). Well drawn, looks unexposed at trip.
• Many Men (Boyle) – 8/1, strong RPR but stable less reliable (38% RTF).

📊 Verdict:
Tarriance is a worthy favourite, but Johnston’s Pole Star and Haggas’s Golden Handshake tick the “improver” boxes. This often goes to stables who plot their 3yo stayers.

Tissue: Tarriance 7/2, Golden Handshake 5/1, Pole Star 6/1, Many Men 10/1.

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3.00 – Sky Bet City of York Stakes (Group 1, 7f, £665,000)

High-class 7f specialists clash – proper Group 1.

• Rosallion (Hannon) – Star miler dropping back to 7f. TF 131 (highest in field). Versatile, major chance.
• Audience (Gosden) – 129 RPR, blazing speed, “hot” stable. Likely pace angle – could control things.
• Never So Brave (Balding) – Consistent, Group 1-placed, will be finishing strongly.
• Lake Forest (Haggas) – Solid 125 horse, but may need softer ground to show best.

📊 Verdict:
Rosallion brings miler class and should be very tough to beat. Audience’s tactical pace makes him the biggest danger if allowed soft fractions. Never So Brave appeals as a solid place play.

Tissue: Rosallion 7/4, Audience 3/1, Never So Brave 9/2, Lake Forest 8/1.

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3.35 – Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Hcp, 1m6f, £500,000)

The day’s showpiece handicap – a betting cavalry charge.

• Hipop De Loire (Mullins) – TF 119+ and lightly raced. Mullins won this last year, and he plots these staying handicaps. Big chance.
• Shadow Dance (Varian) – Classy 118 RPR, strong stable, improving profile.
• Almosh’her (Burke) – TF 121, “hot” stable. Profile screams “improving handicapper”. Big player.
• Ethical Diamond (Mullins) – High Topspeed (143), stamina assured, but quirky type.

📊 Verdict:
A wide-open renewal. Mullins again has a strong hand with Hipop De Loire and Ethical Diamond. Almosh’her looks tailor-made for this, with Shadow Dance another solid each-way player.

Tissue (very rough): Almosh’her 7/1, Hipop De Loire 8/1, Shadow Dance 9/1, Ethical Diamond 12/1 bar.

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4.10 – Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (Heritage Hcp, 6f, £120,000)

Competitive sprint handicap, always a draw/pace puzzle.

• Saint Lawrence (Watson) – Class act in handicaps (RPR 125). Carries weight but has G1 form.
• Jordan Electrics (Goldie) – In-form yard (67% RTF). Well handicapped and goes well fresh.
• Strike Red (Fahey) – Reliable yardstick at this level.
• Two Tribes (Spencer) – Big weight, but has run creditable efforts in major handicaps.

📊 Verdict:
Saint Lawrence is classy but may be vulnerable giving weight. Jordan Electrics (well-handicapped and thriving stable) looks the interesting one. Strike Red consistent for place angles.

Tissue: Saint Lawrence 6/1, Jordan Electrics 8/1, Strike Red 10/1, Two Tribes 12/1 bar.

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4.45 – Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed, 5f, 2yo, £100,000)

Juvenile dash – speed all-important.

• Military Code (Appleby) – TF 110, unbeaten, top juvenile yard (100% RTF). Sets the standard.
• Silent Applause (Appleby) – “p” horse, stablemate, open to big improvement.
• Dickensian (Ryan) – Battle-hardened, peak RPR 110.
• Rydale Frosty (Simcock) – Consistent but may lack the raw pace of Appleby pair.

📊 Verdict:
Appleby holds the aces. Military Code the likely winner, but Silent Applause could improve past him. Dickensian solid place claims.

Tissue: Military Code 2/1, Silent Applause 7/2, Dickensian 6/1, Rydale Frosty 8/1.

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5.20 – Sky Bet Steve Birch Finale Handicap (Heritage Hcp, 1m2f, £100,000)

The “get-out stakes” – competitive middle-distance handicap.

• Greek Order (Bell) – TF 116 (highest rated). Still improving, looks like a plot job.
• Westridge (Gosden) – Consistent, TF 109+, stable flying. Should be thereabouts.
• Sir Busker (Knight) – Group horse in handicaps, but inconsistent these days.
• Erzindjan (Kent) – TF 111+, lightly raced, scope to progress.

📊 Verdict:
Greek Order has the look of a plotted Hcp winner. Westridge the main danger, Erzindjan a lively outsider. Sir Busker has the back-class but risky.

Tissue: Greek Order 4/1, Westridge 6/1, Erzindjan 8/1, Sir Busker 10/1 bar.

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Key Betting Takeaways

• NAP: Rosallion (3.00 City of York Stakes) – class edge.
• NB: Bullet Point (1.50 Strensall) – improver in hot stable.
• EACH-WAY: Almosh’her (3.35 Ebor) – perfect profile for the big one.
• OUTSIDER TO NOTE: Jordan Electrics (4.10 Constantine) – handicapped to strike.