July 29 / 15.15 York

15.15

Soft

Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £70887.5
  • 1m 2f 56y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
View Course
Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 02111- C

Last run: 294 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Slow starter who was highly progressive last year, with a Listed win (1m, good) last July being followed by Group 3 wins here (1m1f, good to firm) and at Newmarket (1m1f, good); absent since last October but fitness unlikely to be an issue with one from this yard; shapes as though this new trip will suit and he's a major player if handling conditions (unraced on slow ground).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

1

(11)

21st Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:35 York

Alflaila

9st 8lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Owen Burrows

Unraced on ground softer than good; edged ahead close home over C&D last month, winning the York Stakes (Group 2) for a second time and taking form figures here to 2111; smart horse who looks an ideal International type, given his excellent record at this venue; enters calculations.

10/1

1st

2

(2)

27th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:15 York

Alflaila

9st 8lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Owen Burrows

Has raced on only good or good to firm; won this on his 2023 reappearance and added to his solid record fresh when fourth (Royal Rhyme neck back in fifth) of ten to Auguste Rodin in the Prince Of Wales's at Royal Ascot last month; should go well in this race again.

9/4

4th

1

(2)

19th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:25 Ascot

Alflaila

9st 2lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Owen Burrows

Has raced on only good or good to firm; highly progressive in 2022 (bar a modest run at this meeting) and added a 1m2f Group 2 success at York last July; had only one other race as 4yo, when about 3l fifth of eight to Auguste Rodin in Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, in a detached last for most of the way but running on well; in each-way calculations.

8/1

11/10

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 313-44 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Won French Group 2 (1m2f, good to soft) last July and close third in Group 1 Champion Stakes (1m2f, good to soft) in October; reappeared with close fourth over inadequate 1m in Group 1 Lockinge (good) in May and, although below par in the Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good) last time, he was one of a few who didn't totally fire; leading claims if back to best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(1)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

18:45 Windsor

My Prospero

9st 7lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

led but pestered, pushed along over 3f out, switched to far side over 2f out, headed over 1f out, rallied and pressed leader inside final furlong, led towards finish, just did enough

9/4

3rd

1

(1)

2nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

My Prospero

9st 12lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Acts on soft and good to firm; smart performer who has bits of Group 1 form; didn't need to reproduce it when justifying favouritism in Listed event here (1m2f) last September, then came up well short in the Champion Stakes (wore tongue-tie/blinkers); peak figures give him a leading chance on seasonal debut.

15/8

7th

4

(4)

21st Oct 2023

Soft

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

My Prospero

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

took keen hold, soon led, headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out

12/1

Form: 319-51 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Listed winner at Ayr (1m2f, good) last September and scored in the same grade in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good) last month; has run well on good to soft, unproven on soft; tackles tougher opposition here but he has a progressive profile and could be up to the task.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(7)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

17:30 Leopardstown

Royal Champion

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Won the Group 3 Winter Derby at Southwell (1m3f, AW) in February before creditable fourth in the Group 3 Gordon Richards at Sandown (1m2f, good); down the field in the Prince of Wales's Stakes on Group 1 debut and first encounter with fast ground; brought form to a new level with Group 2 win at York; still plenty to prove in top grade.

14/1

4

(3)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

14:40 York

Royal Champion

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Won the Group 3 Winter Derby at Southwell (1m3f, AW) in February before creditable fourth under a 3lb penalty in the Group 3 Gordon Richards at Sandown (1m2f, good), when a neck behind Almaqam; down the field at Royal Ascot but in a Group 1 on his first encounter with fast ground; could be thereabouts now back down in grade and with slower ground expected.

14/1

7th

8

(6)

18th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Royal Champion

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Won the 1m2f Listed Wolferton at this meeting in 2023; mixed form last autumn in Australia, before registering Listed and Group 3 wins on the British AW this winter for his new stable; close, keeping-on fourth of seven in Sandown Group 3 (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer) in April was another good effort but he needs markedly better to upset the best of today's rivals.

50/1

Form: 34-487

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Won French Group 3 (1m, good) last August and versatile ground-wise; not at very best this year but had to come from a long way back when respectable seventh of 16 to Royal Champion in the Listed Wolferton at Royal Ascot on his first crack at 1m2f; not ruled out in a first-time visor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(10)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Newbury

Checkandchallenge

9st 11lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: William Knight

7yo who's spent the vast majority of his career in Group or Listed races and this time last year he was fifth on this card in the Group 1 Lockinge; only his second handicap when, like so many others, he met traffic problems in the Spring Cup over C&D (28-1) four weeks ago; Rossa Ryan gets back on board and they are not totally dismissed.

20/1

10th

1

(23)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:10 Newbury

Checkandchallenge

9st 12lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: William Knight

Pretty consistent in Listed/Group races in 2025 without performing to his very best; losing sequence now stands at 18 and he reappears after seven months off in his first handicap since July 2022; cheekpieces left off and others preferred.

25/1

9th

3

(6)

24th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Checkandchallenge

9st 4lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: William Knight

Retains plenty of ability and finished nicely for respectable effort in 1m Group 3 at Haydock most recently; going back up in trip looks a positive but his long losing sequence remains a negative.

20/1

OUR TIP
5th
3 (3)
Mashhoor

5/1

Form: 0-0111 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Two handicap wins this year (1m2f, good to yielding) and has added Listed (1m4f, good) and Group 3 (1m2f, good) victories at the Curragh the last twice; showed promise on yielding to soft in April; benefited from an easy lead when impressive last time but could have the same advantage here; this highly progressive Irish challenger could make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

3

(13)

14th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

17:35 Curragh

Mashhoor

9st 11lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: J P Murtagh

Hasn't won since Group 3 C&D win over two years ago; pick of four runs this term when unlucky in running fifth (beaten only 1.5l) here over 1m4f; hood didn't work at Galway latest and now left off.

25/1

2

(12)

1st Aug 2025

Soft

1m 4f 0y

18:35 Galway

Mashhoor

9st 10lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: J P Murtagh

Former Group 3 winner who isn't handicapped out of contention and he didn't get the breaks when fifth to Fleetfoot at the Curragh most recently; could be dangerous in the new hood.

10/1

3

(15)

29th Jun 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

16:50 Curragh

Mashhoor

9st 10lb

J: Yudish Geerdharry

T: J P Murtagh

One of two for yard; enjoyed a purple-patch in 2023 when winning three in a row (including a Listed race over C&D); lost way subsequently but signs of life when beaten just 3.25l here last month (1m2f, good); promising rider takes off 7lb; likes quick ground; could go well.

11/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.00
Straight Forecast £10.04
Trifecta £23.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

My Prospero

TOPSPEED:

Royal Champion

SPOTLIGHT:

Alflaila

Daily Mirror:

Mashhoor

POSTDATA:

My Prospero

NEWMARKET:

My Prospero

The Times:

My Prospero

Telegraph:

My Prospero

Daily Mail:

My Prospero

D Express:

My Prospero

The Sun:

My Prospero

Daily Record:

My Prospero

LAMBOURN:

Alflaila

The Guardian:

Royal Champion

The Star:

Royal Champion