May 17 / 15.45 York

15.45

Good

Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes (Group 2) (British Champions Series)

  • Prize money: £102078
  • 1m 5f 188y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes (Group 2) (British Champions Series)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 153-35 CD

Last run: 48 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Won this race last year and ran well back at York (2m) in August; solid performances this year behind Tower Of London in Saudi Arabia and UAE, suggesting he will be on the premises.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(3)

6th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 1

13:35 Kempton (AW)

Giavellotto

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Marco Botti

Absent since finishing third in the Coronation Cup three months ago; successful several times when fresh, most recently in 1m4f Group 1 at Sha Tin last December; big player dropped back in grade and he is 2-2 on AW.

11/4

5

(5)

6th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Giavellotto

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Marco Botti

Campaigned mostly at 1m6f-2m; took his form to a new level in two attempts over 1m4f last year, winning Group 2 at Newmarket (good to soft) and Group 1 at Sha Tin (good); behind Calandagan in the Sheema Classic two months ago but isn't fully exposed at this trip.

9/2

3rd

3

(3)

15th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Giavellotto

9st 11lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Marco Botti

sweating, raced in third, outpaced over 1f out, ran on and went third again inside final 110yds

11/4

3/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 1/110- D BF

Last run: 192 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Very smart hurdler who was back to the Flat with a bang last summer, hacking up in a 1m6f handicap at Royal Ascot and tidy winner of a 1m4f Group 3 at Naas; favourite for the Melbourne Cup in November but faded into mid-division; leading contender on the Royal Ascot form and no shock if he's still capable of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(6)

15th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Vauban

9st 11lb

J: William Buick

T: W P Mullins

held up in rear, headway 2f out, ran on and went second inside final 110yds, no match for winner

11/2

1st

7

(4)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Vauban

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: W P Mullins

Attentions concentrated on the Flat since his runaway handicap win at Royal Ascot last June; has not quite lived up to that dazzling display, this term running respectably in the Yorkshire Cup here and the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, seemingly stretched by 2m4f (good to firm) in the latter, before a lesser show at the Curragh five weeks ago; big player if back at his peak.

3/1

3rd

7

(3)

20th Jul 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Vauban

9st 11lb

J: Colin Keane

T: W P Mullins

midfield, headway and chased clear leader 3f out, 8 lengths down when lost second inside final furlong, kept on

5/2

Form: 11135- D

Last run: 244 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Won his first three starts, most notably from the front when evens in the 1m6f Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot; third in the Great Voltigeur at York in August, setting a strong pace in a bid to compensate for dropping back to 1m4f, and again ran creditably when fifth in the St Leger at Doncaster, having led 3f out; needs to find a bit extra but it may be possible, starting out on just his second campaign.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Gregory

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his six races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only flop; career-best form in the Goodwood Cup next time, beaten a head by Sweet William for second; third at York (again 2m on good) last time was not at that level but some of the stars of the division are missing today and he has to be considered seriously.

11/4

3rd

3

(1)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Gregory

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his five races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only disappointing show and he followed that with career-best form when third in the 2m Goodwood Cup late last month; effective here and he's one of the several leading candidates on form.

9/2

3rd

3

(2)

30th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Gregory

9st 12lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; ran creditably while put in his place on next three starts, including when third in the Yorkshire Cup at York in May when shaping as if further would suit; failed to prove that with a tame show in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (15-2), which was disappointing notwithstanding the 2m4f; this is his first go at 2m.

9/1

7/1

Form: 0112-2 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Can front-run; ended last term in career-best form and reappeared with another big run when neck second in Group 3 at Newbury, rallying well; all those peak displays were over about 1m4f but this return to further is most unlikely to be a problem and may well suit him; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Al Qareem

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in Listed grade at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) on seasonal debut, making it five wins from his last nine starts and taking overall record to 13-36; Chester record reads 112, most recently running creditably in this race 12 months ago; again likely to give his running.

9/1

1st

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.

4/5

1

(5)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Ascot

Al Qareem

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-running 6yo who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins now to his credit, including three of his four starts at Ascot; latest was over 1m4f two weeks ago, with three 1m6f wins earlier this season; he's never been at his best over this far, admittedly with stiff tasks but it's hard to ignore that Trawlerman gave him 3lb and a comprehensive beating at York in August.

12/1

Form: 249-11

Last run: 48 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Progressed well as 3yo, culminating in his St Leger fourth; made a storming start to 2024 with big-money wins from off the pace at Riyadh (1m7f) and Meydan (2m) so he has the class to go well despite 3lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(5)

12th Apr 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Tower Of London

9st 10lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

slowly into stride, in rear, kept on, never near to challenge

11/2

5th

3

(5)

12th Apr 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Tower Of London

9st 10lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

slowly into stride, in rear, kept on, never near to challenge

11/2

1st

6

(10)

20th Jul 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Tower Of London

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

dwelt start, towards rear, headway but 15 lengths down 2f out, went second but 8 lengths down inside final furlong, shaken up and ran on well to lead towards finish, cosily

15/8

20/1

Form: 2113-3 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Superbly bred; progressive at up to 1m6f in his first season last year, until disappointing in Listed event on final start; hung right that day and did so markedly when fair third in Newmarket Group 2 (1m4f) two weeks ago on first start since being gelded; leaves strong impression he has more to offer but the hanging right is a concern and he is bottom of this group on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(2)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Naqeeb

9st 6lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Performed well twice over C&D last term but had the run of the race when belying his 33-1 odds for neck success at Listed level in September (good to soft) and looks no certainty to defy a 3lb penalty back here, unless things again fall his way.

12/1

5th

3

(1)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Naqeeb

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Has raced as far as 2m1f in 2024 and never shorter than 1m2f; third at last year's Royal Ascot came over 1m4f but he broke a losing sequence when diverted from top handicaps to a 1m2f Listed race at Goodwood last September; the prospect of 1m now doesn't seem so ridiculous but a career best is needed.

16/1

1st

4

(4)

24th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Naqeeb

9st 4lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

On a two-year losing spell and is 0-6 for current yard; still capable of very useful form, having been placed in handicaps at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood this summer; however, this seems a harder task.

16/1

Non-runners

Hamish

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.70
Straight Forecast £16.30
Trifecta £58.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Vauban

NEWMARKET:

Gregory

SPOTLIGHT:

Tower Of London

The Times:

Giavellotto

Telegraph:

Gregory

Daily Mail:

Gregory

POSTDATA:

Tower Of London

Daily Mirror:

Giavellotto

TOPSPEED:

Vauban

The Guardian:

Vauban

D Express:

Vauban

The Sun:

Vauban

The Star:

Vauban

Daily Record:

Vauban