August 20 / 13.50 York

13.50

Good

Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £85065
  • 1m 0f 177y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
ITV
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Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 6-1021

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Has given his opponents head-starts on his last three runs and could do with breaking smarter, but he was a good Listed second behind Mighty Ulysses at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) last month and finished well for a Listed win at Pontefract (1m, good) most recently; this 3yo shapes as though today's extra yardage will prompt further improvement and he's a strong contender.
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

8/1

  • Place: £5.50

Form: 3-2631

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Won a conditions race in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Thirsk a fortnight ago despite the unsuitable 7f trip; third in a 1m1f Group 3 at Newmarket last October (good) and runner-up over the same trip in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan (good) in March; however, that was a relatively weak Group 1 and he needs a career best if he's to come out on top here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(7)

8th Oct 2022

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

17:20 Newmarket

Finest Sound

9st 5lb

J: David Egan

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

held up in midfield, headway 5f out, led over 2f out, ridden when edged left and headed over 1f out, weakened final 110yds

11/2

2nd

2

(4)

27th Aug 2022

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Finest Sound

9st 6lb

J: Andrea Atzeni

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and hard pressed from over 1f out, soon drifted right, kept on but headed towards finish

15/2

2nd

3

(3)

20th Aug 2022

Good

1m 0f 177y

Class 1

13:50 York

Finest Sound

9st 7lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in touch with leaders, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and led narrowly over 1f out, headed inside final 110yds, soon no chance with winner

8/1

Form: 504028

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Horse

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Group 3 and dual Listed winner in his prime; Listed runner-up at 33-1 behind Alflaila at Pontefract last month but enjoyed the run of the race in front and has since been well beaten at Haydock; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(6)

14th Oct 2023

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

16:45 York

Maries Diamond

10st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

led, headed under 3f out, kept on until no extra inside final 110yds

20/1

10th

2

(4)

7th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 3

19:45 Wolverhampton (AW)

Maries Diamond

9st 8lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

Ran a cracker from the front at York in May (extended 1m2f) and he turns up here off a 7lb lower mark after some struggles in classy company; ran well in one start at this track and a more positive showing is expected in this weaker race.

14/1

14/1

Form: 4-2459

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
7f 2yo Listed winner who was a creditable fourth in the Derby in June; however, he's finished down the field in 1m5f/1m4f Group 3s the last twice and is probably best watched now back down in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

13:42 Cartmel

Masekela

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: James Moffatt

Formerly smart on the Flat (fourth in 2022 Derby) but was knocking about in low-grade handicaps last year; well beaten on stable/hurdle debut in May but shaped with much more promise when third over C&D (albeit well held in the end) later that month, and might collect another minor prize today.

10/1

3rd

3

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

18:08 Cartmel

Masekela

11st 4lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Low-grade Flat performer who joined this yard for £5,000; 25-1 and tailed off in a good-ground maiden at Hexham.

14/1

6th

2

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

17:45 Hexham

Masekela

11st 4lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

On a long losing run on the Flat but he ran creditably when last seen, finishing second at Redcar (1m2f, good; final outing for Tim Easterby) in October; changed hands for £5,000 soon after; going hurdling rather late but not without hope.

10/1

Form: -51251

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Very close fifth in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before a Listed win at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) where he had something to spare over runner-up Alflaila; he wasn't stopping at the line at Newmarket and this extra furlong should be fine; leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(4)

29th Sep 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Mighty Ulysses

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

C&D novice winner who was a Listed scorer on the other Newmarket course (1m, good to firm) last July; back to form when dead-heating in Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury (1m, good) last month in first-time cheekpieces (retained) and he's respected for his top stable (one of two for yard).

9/2

1st

3

(2)

17th Aug 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Salisbury

Mighty Ulysses

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Rapidly developed into a smart miler last summer, very close fifth in Group 1 St James's Palace before a Listed win at Newmarket, but disappointing on final 3yo start and on his only run this term; good to soft ground and some ring-rustiness might help explain the latter but connections also now turn to cheekpieces.

7/2

5th

7

(7)

15th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:20 Ascot

Mighty Ulysses

9st 3lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Rapidly developed into a smart miler last summer, very close fifth in Group 1 St James's Palace over C&D before a Listed win at Newmarket; a touch disappointing when stepped up to 1m1f at York on final 3yo start but his overall profile is positive and he could easily have more to come in 2023; contender but he was keen in quite a few of his races last year and wouldn't want to be too fresh back from 11 months off; raced only on good/good to firm.

6/1

Form: 17-215 D BF

Last run: 66 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Filly who carries a 3lb penalty now back against males and wasn't at her best at Royal Ascot when last seen; however, that run may have come too soon, just 11 days after she won a Group 3 at Epsom (8.5f, good), and she looked highly progressive at that point; retains potential and not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(7)

20th Aug 2022

Good

1m 0f 177y

Class 1

13:50 York

Bashkirova

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

dwelt start, held up in behind leaders, pushed along 4f out, ridden over 2f out, made no impression

7/1

Form: 1-4303

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
He was making just his fifth start when third in a Group 3 at Goodwood (1m, good to firm) three weeks ago and that was a career-best effort; further improvement is possible but necessary in what looks a better race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(2)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Goodwood

Sonny Liston

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Acts on soft and good to firm; has the makings of a Group performer judged on his smart handicap form this term, notably close second off top weight in the Royal Hunt Cup; prominent for a long way in the Sussex Stakes over C&D most recently, fading only inside the final furlong; major player back down in class.

7/2

5th

3

(5)

31st Jul 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Sonny Liston

9st 10lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

pressed leader

20/1

6th

8

(5)

13th Jul 2024

Soft

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:20 Ascot

Sonny Liston

9st 3lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ralph Beckett

held up in rear, some headway 2f out, no extra from 1f out

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: -36122 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Below par at Newbury latest which dents confidence in his claims, but he won a Listed race at Leopardstown (1m1f, good) in June on his final run for Jessica Harrington before a good Listed second in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) on stable debut; a contender if back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(13)

1st Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 2

14:50 Goodwood

Cadillac

9st 12lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Alice Haynes

slowly into stride, towards rear

20/1

1

(10)

15th Jul 2023

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

15:10 York

Cadillac

9st 12lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Alice Haynes

Well beaten in Royal Ascot Listed race last time but had an excuse as he was badly hampered early; before that he won a handicap at Epsom (1m2f, good to firm) on Oaks day and is not ruled out; versatile ground-wise in the past; makes yard debut having left George Boughey (remains in same ownership).

16/1

15th

6

(4)

20th Jun 2023

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Cadillac

9st 5lb

J: James McDonald

T: George Boughey

Second in this last year; back to best when producing a really smart handicap performance to defy a big weight at the recent Epsom Derby meeting (1m2f, good to firm); cheekpieces worn on that occasion are retained; not long in the excellent George Boughey yard and should make a bold bid to go one place better than 12 months ago.

9/1

Non-runners

Cadillac

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £49.60
Straight Forecast £59.89
Tricast £1022.21
Trifecta £462.50

Selections

RP Ratings:

Mighty Ulysses

SPOTLIGHT:

Alflaila

TOPSPEED:

Bashkirova

Daily Express:

Sonny Liston

The Guardian:

Cadillac

POSTDATA:

Mighty Ulysses

NEWMARKET:

Mighty Ulysses

The Times:

Mighty Ulysses

Daily Mail:

Mighty Ulysses

Daily Mirror:

Mighty Ulysses

The Sun:

Mighty Ulysses

The Star:

Mighty Ulysses

LAMBOURN:

Alflaila

Telegraph:

Alflaila

Daily Record:

Alflaila