August 24 / 15.00 York

15.00

Good To Firm

Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £283550
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
View Course
Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

33/1 (Won)

  • Win: £31.20
  • Place: £6.60

Form: -31727

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Consistent in the main and versatile ground-wise, she gained a deserved big prize in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (8.5f; against fillies and mares) at Epsom in June; however, she's been beaten on her three starts since and her limitations are again likely to be exposed this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(3)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Breege

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

T: John & Sean Quinn

Consistent in the main and versatile ground-wise, she gained a deserved big prize in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (8.5f; against fillies and mares) at Epsom in June; however, she's been beaten on her three starts since and her limitations are again likely to be exposed this afternoon.

33/1

7th

1

(9)

31st Jul 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Goodwood

Breege

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

sweating, pressed leader, lost second over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong

13/2

2nd

1

(3)

13th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 1

18:05 Chester

Breege

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Consistent filly who's done nothing wrong this season, backing up her Epsom Group 3 win with a solid effort in Group 2 at Royal Ascot in first-time headgear; a penalty leaves her a bit to find but she's fine round easy, turning courses (can lug left) and should give her running as usual dropped from 1m and switched to blinkers.

8/1

40/1

  • Place: £4.90

Form: 1-2663 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Won two 7f Listed races late last year and runner-up in Group 2 at Meydan (7f, good) in January; sound efforts on his two starts this summer but he is likely to be vulnerable now back up in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(20)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Vafortino

9st 8lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: Charlie Fellowes

Landed the Victoria Cup over C&D in 2022 and hasn't had the smoothest of passages in two attempts in this contest (finished 11th that year and tenth in 2023); losing run is mounting up, however, and he doesn't look particularly solid on his form for current stable.

33/1

8th

4

(7)

14th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

14:55 York

Vafortino

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Fellowes

8yo who is without a win since December 2023 but he showed spark in Dubai this winter and ran big races on his two previous visits to York; returns to a handy on a fair mark and could have an each-way shout.

16/1

1

(6)

14th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 111y

Class 2

15:00 Doncaster

Vafortino

9st 12lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

He's run just once this year but that was a fairly encouraging performance when fifth of nine at Chepstow (7f, good to soft) last month; he could build on that and he's on a competitive mark on last season's best efforts over 6f and 7f; effective in big-field handicaps and not ruled out.

25/1

Form: 302691 C

Last run: 48 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
It was one of his very best performances when going close in the Group 2 Duke Of York here (6f, good) in May and he won a Group 3 at Deauville (6f, good to soft) last month; should be fine now back up to 7f (third in Group 1 over this trip last October) and he might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

(1)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Ascot

Shouldvebeenaring

9st 4lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Has won just one of his last 17 races and was tailed off in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket last week; would be a shock winner.

40/1

9th

6

(8)

11th Oct 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Shouldvebeenaring

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Richard Hannon

towards rear

9/1

3rd

5

(7)

14th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Shouldvebeenaring

9st 6lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Has blown hot and cold this season, best efforts when beaten a nose in Group 2 Duke of York (6f, good) in May and when winning Group 3 at Deauville (6f, good to soft) in July; faced stiff task but well held even so in Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock last week; has a chance if on a going day.

14/1

Form: 23-151 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Second to Kinross in this last year (good to firm); improved form when winning the Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury (1m, good) on reappearance and showed that was no one-off with 4l win under 5lb penalty in the Group 2 Lennox at Goodwood (7f, good) last time; no penalty today and has leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(4)

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

15:15 Curragh

Audience

9st 10lb

J: Colin Keane

T: David O’Meara

Group 1 Lockinge winner in 2024 and Group 2 winner at Goodwood the same year; on a losing run since but his runner-up finish in a Leopardstown Group 3 showed definite signs of encouragement (7f, soft) when ridden by Keane for the first time; his wins came on good so if he repeats that latest run he is firmly in the mix.

6/1

2nd

1

(5)

11th Jun 2026

Soft

0m 7f 35y

19:00 Leopardstown

Audience

9st 9lb

J: Colin Keane

T: David O’Meara

Group 1 Lockinge winner in 2024 and Group 2 winner at Goodwood the same year; on a losing run since and ran poorly in Dubai in three starts this year; didn't fare any better at Haydock 33 days ago, fading tamely; hard to be positive about him currently.

20/1

9th

1

(7)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 212y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Audience

9st 10lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Group 1 Lockinge winner in 2024 but on a 12-race losing sequence and he ran badly on his last three starts in Dubai early this year; this is a drop in grade but he's proving increasingly hard to predict.

25/1

OUR TIP

12/1

Form: 054042 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Horse

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who landed first Group 1 win in Champions Sprint at Ascot (6f, soft) last October; good fourth in the July Cup at Newmarket (6f) this term before 4l second to Audience in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on rare attempt at 7f (good); likely vulnerable to stronger stayers once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(7)

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 1

13:50 Doncaster

Art Power

10st 1lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Usually races up with pace; fine sprinter over the years but the majority of his big wins have come at the Curragh, where he's won five Group races; well beaten over this C&D when last seen in November and, although he'd be dangerous on a going day, others seem more likely to give their running.

20/1

1

(10)

18th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Art Power

9st 4lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Sprang a 40-1 surprise in this race in 2023 and showed he's still capable of smart form when winning the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh (6f, soft) three weeks ago; however, he's some way down the pecking order on this year's form and others appeal more.

22/1

1st

1

(6)

28th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

0m 6f 0y

15:12 Curragh

Art Power

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

A regular visitor to these parts and has won here four times, including this race in 2021 and 2022; ran a blinder in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes over C&D on his seasonal reappearance last month; below best in Flying Five two weeks ago; could rebound stepped back up in trip.

6/1

Form: 190400

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Won two 6f AW handicaps early this year but hasn't shone on turf subsequently and he'd be a shock winner this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(2)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Newcastle (AW)

Fivethousandtoone

9st 10lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Faced with his optimum conditions but he is 3lb higher than for his win in this race last summer; each-way claims once again.

10/1

6th

8

(14)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 182y

Class 3

14:00 Carlisle

Fivethousandtoone

9st 3lb

J: David Probert

T: Tim Easterby

Four-time AW winner, only 1-27 on grass; never the slightest threat on return to turf at Leicester; others have more convincing profiles.

16/1

11th

11

(6)

25th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Leicester

Fivethousandtoone

8st 7lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Tim Easterby

Four-time AW winner who has finished close up on Tapeta (5f/6f) in his last three runs; record of 1-26 on turf but he's on a lower mark in this sphere and he ran well in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon (6f, good to firm) last summer; dangerous.

8/1

Form: 417-22 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
3yo whose seven starts have all been at 6f; won the Group 2 Gimcrack here (good to firm) last August and a fine second on both outings this year in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury; has shaped the last twice as though he could be well suited by 7f and he's one to consider; 3yos won five in a row from 2015-2019.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

(1)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Lake Forest

9st 5lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Runner-up in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup over C&D (good to firm) at this meeting in 2024; campaigned over 7f-1m since that November; reappeared at Haydock (7f, good) last month having been gelded and powered clear for impressive Listed win; the drop back to 6f poses a question but the stiff track and strong pace will be in his favour, and he could have a part to play.

10/1

1st

6

(4)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 212y

Class 1

15:40 Haydock

Lake Forest

9st 10lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Won the Group 2 Gimcrack as a 2yo and finished second in the Group 1 City Of York (7f, good to firm) last August; made no show in two Group 1s in Australia in the autumn and he's since been gelded; returns in a much lower grade than usual and very dangerous if ready to roll after six months off.

9/4

3

(8)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Lake Forest

9st 8lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Won the Group 2 Gimcrack here in 2yo season in 2023; not beaten far when fifth in Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) and his run here next time may have come too soon; beaten nearly 3l when second in Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood (7f, good) latest; may find a few too good.

10/1

Non-runners

Kinross

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £295.50
Straight Forecast £266.94
Tricast £2592.99
Trifecta £1024.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Audience

TOPSPEED:

Lake Forest

D Express:

Kinross

The Times:

Lake Forest

Telegraph:

Lake Forest

The Guardian:

Lake Forest

RP RATINGS:

Audience

POSTDATA:

Audience

NEWMARKET:

Audience

Daily Mail:

Audience

Daily Mirror:

Audience

The Sun:

Audience

Daily Record:

Audience

The Star:

Kinross