July 13 / 14.35 York

14.35

Good To Soft

John Smith’s City Walls Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £39697
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
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John Smith’s City Walls Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.60

Form: -23618 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Came up short in the 6f Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot (blinkered; 9-1) last time, but he'd previously shown a liking for this C&D when a convincing handicap winner (good to soft) off a mark of 105; interesting contender back over 5f at York.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

(10)

21st Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:35 York

Starlust

10st 1lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Finished a close third in the 2024 running and went on to win the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (5f, firm; has won on good to soft) later in the year; seen only twice in 2025 and it's been a slow process recapturing form but a recent close fourth to Redorange in a C&D Listed race (first-time visor, now discarded) in July was better; no surprise to see him go well at a price.

50/1

4th

6

(1)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:12 York

Starlust

9st 1lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Won this race in 2024 and finished that campaign with a superb success in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (firm); lightly raced since (had a spell at stud) and well below par this season; needs first-time visor to spark a revival.

14/1

23th

12

(5)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Starlust

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Smart 5f form as 3yo included close third in the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York and a win in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (firm); just four runs since, best of those when fourth of 20 in this race last year when ending up away from the main action; went to stud after (that career is on hold for now) and needs his recent Carlisle reappearance to have brought him on plenty.

40/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 115-60 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Improved markedly after being gelded and having a hood fitted, crowning 3yo season with a luckless fifth in the Group 1 Abbaye (5f, good to soft); sold for £1,000,000 soon after; disappointing twice this season (hood left off last time and again today) and suddenly has something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(7)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:33 Carlisle

Rogue Lightning

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: Tom Clover

Globetrotting gelding whose last win came in Qatar (6f, good) in February 2025 when Washington Heights was second; has run respectably on his two outings this season, fourth in French Group 3 (5f, soft) on latest; should be thereabouts under optimum conditions.

11/2

9th

5

(10)

12th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

16:35 Newmarket (July)

Rogue Lightning

9st 8lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Tom Clover

Has shown very useful form on home soil and internationally, including a success in Qatar and close second in US Grade 2 this year; below par last time and faces a stiffer assignment on this return to British racing; gained last domestic win in 2023.

40/1

7th

8

(6)

2nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Rogue Lightning

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: Tom Clover

Acts on good to firm and good to soft; generally progressive 2023 campaign culminated in close fifth in the Group 1 Abbaye at Longchamp; best effort this term when second to Starlust at York last time; may resume his improvement with hood now reapplied (3-5 in this headgear); interesting.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 391226 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Prominent racer who showed blazing speed and posted a career-best effort when caught close home in the "Dash" at Epsom (5f, good to soft; also acts on heavy) in June; has real possibilities on that form but he ran poorly in Listed race at Haydock the following week.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(1)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

15:47 Redcar

Democracy Dilemma

10st 0lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Robert Cowell

Free-going front-runner; no longer the force of old but ran big race when fourth of 23 at Glorious Goodwood (5f, good) last week; 1lb lower here and could be hard to catch if in similar form again.

13/8

4th

5

(7)

28th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

Democracy Dilemma

9st 4lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Robert Cowell

Front-runner; 3lb lower than for his runaway win at Haydock last September (5f, good) but hasn't got a lot going in his last four races and was tailed off in Epsom's Dash, in which he was second in 2024; others preferred.

25/1

4th
4 (6)
Korker

16/1

Form: -74930 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Six-time 5f winner; has given his running only once this season, but that was when fourth of 17 to Clarendon House in handicap here in May; hindered his chance with a slow start, not for the first time, on latest outing; has worn cheekpieces for last two runs but better efforts without; comes with risks but he's a serious player on his best form and he handles any ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

(9)

2nd Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 2

15:52 Chester

Korker

9st 5lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

On a long losing run but he has dropped to a dangerous mark and his latest Newcastle run confirmed he retains a good chunk of ability, surging to the front 1f out but failing to see out the stiff 7f; this easier test should suit and he can't be discounted.

10/1

4th

8

(12)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

13:40 Newcastle (AW)

Korker

9st 1lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

Slow starter; on a long losing run; creditable effort at Chester four weeks ago but this stiff 7f isn't sure to suit.

20/1

6th

7

(11)

30th May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 2

15:30 Chester

Korker

9st 1lb

J: Jason Hart

T: K R Burke

Slow-starter; on a dangerous mark but he is without a win since October 2023 and one 7f run didn't see him improve for the trip.

28/1

Form: 434101 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Smart 5f performer who lost all chance with a slow start in the "Dash" at Epsom but bounced back to form with a clearcut success in Listed race at Cork (good to yielding) four weeks ago; had previously won a handicap over C&D under a big weight; commands major respect despite a 3lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(9)

21st Mar 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 2

16:38 Southwell (AW)

Clarendon House

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Robert Cowell

High-class sprinter on turf and AW; his two C&D wins have both been mighty performances and there is no doubt he has the raw ability to give the weight away to today's opponents; sadly he has become a nightmare at the start, refusing to race in three of his last five runs; can't be supported with confidence; stable run four here.

16/1

1

(7)

28th Aug 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 2

20:45 Southwell (AW)

Clarendon House

9st 12lb

J: David Allan

T: Robert Cowell

High-class sprinter on his day and he has tasted defeat in just one of his four runs on AW; fine effort to beat Marshman in a Listed race here in February and third in a Newmarket Group 3 next time; no doubt he has the ability to win a race of this nature but he is increasingly troublesome at the start and he has refused to race twice this summer; capable but too much risk attached to recommend.

10/1

Form: 241181 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Likeable type who won his third race from six starts when easily beating three rivals in handicap at Goodwood (5f, good; unraced on extremes) three weeks ago; open to further improvement but that win came off a mark of just 80 and he faces a much sterner assignment here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(5)

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

18:20 Goodwood

Grandlad

9st 12lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: James Horton

Made a winning reappearance at Nottingham in April but he hasn't built on it in three runs since; blinkers now given a go.

14/1

6th

5

(1)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 8y

Class 4

19:45 Nottingham

Grandlad

9st 7lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: James Horton

Made all when winning off this mark on his comeback over C&D in the spring; bounced back from a poor one at Newmarket (doesn't seem to like it there) when not beaten far last time and there's no obvious reason he won't go well again.

5/1

7th

4

(4)

25th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 4

16:23 Chester

Grandlad

9st 11lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: James Horton

All wins have been at 5f, the latest by a head at Nottingham in April (1lb lower); disappointing at Newmarket but ran poorly on his previous visit there; could bounce back from a handy draw.

9/1

14/1

Form: 21 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 8st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has made a promising start, shaping well over an extended 6f at the Curragh on debut and easily landing the odds in 5f maiden at Bellewstown, both on good ground; should keep improving but she's in much deeper here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(4)

13th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:35 York

Yefimenko

8st 5lb

J: Siobhan Rutledge

T: G M Lyons

prominent

14/1

1st

10

(8)

5th Jul 2024

Good

0m 5f 3y

17:50 Bellewstown

Yefimenko

9st 3lb

J: Colin Keane

T: G M Lyons

Plenty of debut promise over extended 6f at the Curragh last month, forcing much of pace until caught close home (clear of remainder); will be short odds to go one better here for in-form yard.

8/11

Non-runners

Emaraaty Ana, We Never Stop

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.60
Straight Forecast £6.80
Trifecta £38.00

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Starlust

The Guardian:

Yefimenko

RP RATINGS:

Clarendon House

NEWMARKET:

Grandlad

SPOTLIGHT:

Korker

D Express:

Emaraaty Ana

Daily Record:

Yefimenko

POSTDATA:

Starlust

The Times:

Starlust

Telegraph:

Starlust

Daily Mail:

Starlust

The Sun:

Starlust

The Star:

Starlust

Daily Mirror:

Clarendon House