July 26 / 14.40 York

14.40

Good To Soft

Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £85065
  • 1m 2f 56y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
View Course
Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 632-31 D

Last run: 58 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Listed winner last May (1m, soft) and showed improved form to make all in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown (1m2f, good) this May; had a race-fitness advantage over clear runner-up Ombudsman but the form still reads extremely well given that rival's subsequent Group 1 win; leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(7)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 110y

15:55 Curragh

Almaqam

9st 5lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Closest to Minnie Hauk on ratings, although that rival has the benefit of race-fitness and a fillies allowance; made all to beat subsequent three-time Group 1 winner Ombudsman at Sandown (1m2f, good) last season but had the benefit of a run; good placed efforts in Group 2s at York (10.5f, good) and Longchamp (1m4f, good to soft); signed off last term with a cracking run to take third in a Group 1 at Ascot on Champions Day (1m2f, good); there is likely more to come to this term from the British raider.

5/1

3rd

1

(1)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:05 Ascot

Almaqam

9st 7lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Made all to beat Ombudsman in Group 3 at Sandown (1m2f, good) in May but was receiving 3lb and had the benefit of recent match practice, unlike that rival who has reached a much higher level since; could go well but looks unlikely to confirm the placings; no further progress in a couple of Group 2 events since, latest over 1m4f in France.

20/1

Form: 221-36 CD

Last run: 78 days

W: 9st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
9yo who was better than ever last season, winning a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft) in September; below par at Chester in May when last seen but reportedly lost a shoe; seems versatile ground-wise and likes it here; no surprise if he bounces back and plays a leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(8)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Certain Lad

9st 3lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Multiple winner down the years but 2025 figures suggest age may be catching up with him to some degree; hasn't won a domestic race since 2023 and it's an even longer time since he made a successful seasonal debut.

14/1

3

(3)

19th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 0y

15:26 Leopardstown

Certain Lad

9st 7lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Strike rate of 11-49 reads well although hasn't won in over a year and this season has been restricted by quick ground; had his favoured soft ground but still good bit below best at Ayr last month so must be doubtful he can run to current mark and ideally wants a bit further.

8/1

3

(1)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ayr

Certain Lad

9st 5lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

9yo whose form has been mixed across three starts this year; however, they've all been on good ground and his last five wins have come on good to soft and slower ground, the latest a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft) last September; could bounce back with a big run if conditions are in his favour.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 323-10 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Placed in Group 3/Listed races last year for Edward O'Grady and bolted up in handicap at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) last month on second start for this yard; unable to reproduce that form in Listed race at Royal Ascot but maybe didn't handle the fast ground; could go well if conditions suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(7)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

14:40 York

Ecureuil Secret

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

Placed in Group 3/Listed races last year for Edward O'Grady and bolted up in handicap at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) last month on second start for this yard; unable to reproduce that form in Listed race at Royal Ascot but maybe didn't handle the fast ground; could go well if conditions suit.

25/1

10th

7

(8)

17th Jun 2025

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Ecureuil Secret

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

Placed at Group 3 and Listed level last year; recorded a really smart handicap performance when making his second start for Richard Fahey a winning one on reappearance at the recent Epsom Derby meeting (1m2f, good to soft), pulling 4l clear; a fairly quick turnaround is a slight worry after such a big effort but he's bang there on form; has raced only on going softer than good.

8/1

1st

3

(11)

6th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 17y

Class 2

15:15 Epsom

Ecureuil Secret

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

Won Leopardstown maiden (1m, heavy) last April on debut for Edward O'Grady; minor honours in his two Group 3s and three Listed events, on last two occasions bang there on testing ground over about 1m4f in France (stable debut latest); starts new season gelded and needs a second look.

12/1

Form: 01-147 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
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.
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: 111-22

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Made it 3-3 in 2yo campaign in Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster (7f, good) and runner-up on both 3yo outings, in Sandown Listed (1m, good; under penalty) then Group 2 at Saint-Cloud (1m2f, good to soft); improvement needed but he's raced only five times and could still have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(3)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 110y

15:55 Curragh

Bay City Roller

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: George Scott

Showed some high-class form last year, including when beaten less than a length by Daryz in the Prix Egene Adam; hit the big time when making all to win the Group 1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern by 7l at Munich (1m4f, soft) in November; huge run at Chester when conceding weight all around, just going down by a neck to last year's dual Derby winner Lambourn; ideally suited by softer ground and a bit to find on ratings but he's clearly in top form.

8/1

Form: 11-616

Last run: 27 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won Group 2 at Leopardstown (1m, good) last September and built upon his 2,000 Guineas sixth to make all in Listed race at Leopardstown (1m1f, good); respectable sixth in the Irish Derby (1m4f, good) last time; a bigger run is necessary today but there's every chance he'll continue to progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(2)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 110y

15:55 Curragh

Green Impact

9st 5lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

Beat the top-class Delacroix in a Leopardstown Group 2 as a 2yo (1m, good); sixth in the 2,000 Guineas before making all in a Leopardstown Listed race in June (1m1f, good); respectable efforts in the Irish Derby here (1m4f, good) and in a York Group 2 (10.5f, good); shaped as though he would improve over his return in a Group 3 here last time when fading into fourth (1m2f, soft); a good bit to find with the top ones here all the same.

25/1

4th

4

(12)

19th Apr 2026

Soft

1m 2f 0y

15:35 Curragh

Green Impact

9st 5lb

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

Beat the top-class Delacroix in Group 2 at Leopardstown at two (1m, good); sixth in 2,000 Guineas before making all in Listed race at Leopardstown last June (1m1f, good); respectable sixth in the Irish Derby (1m4f, good); front-running effort petered out when fourth in York Group 2 event, though was best of the Classic generation; should make a smart middle distance 4yo.

9/2

Form: 312-15

Last run: 49 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Pushed Eclipse winner Delacroix close in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket (1m, good to soft) last October and ran a fine race when fifth in the Derby (1m4f, good) last month, losing two places close home; appeals as a type whose best days still lie ahead and this trip could be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(4)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

14:40 York

Stanhope Gardens

8st 13lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Pushed Eclipse winner Delacroix close in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket (1m, good to soft) last October and ran a fine race when fifth in the Derby (1m4f, good) last month, losing two places close home; appeals as a type whose best days still lie ahead and this trip could be ideal.

11/4

15

(2)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

15:30 Epsom

Stanhope Gardens

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Dam's winning siblings include Romsdal, placed in the Derby and St Leger; dug in late for a promising third to Ruling Court on Sandown 7f debut as 2yo and ended the season by making Delacroix pull out most of the stops in a Newmarket Group 3 (1m, good to soft); had a gift of a reappearance at Salisbury recently but if he's made the same progress over the winter as some of his rivals he'd be on the premises.

14/1

1st

2

(2)

24th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:50 Salisbury

Stanhope Gardens

9st 9lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Delivered on debut promise when eased-down winner of Beverley maiden (7.4f, good to firm) last summer and was close second to subsequent Group 1 Futurity second Delacroix in Newmarket Group 3 (1m, good to soft) in the autumn; holds multiple Group 1 entries for the season ahead and ought to be very hard to beat here.

1/5

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.90
Straight Forecast £19.55
Trifecta £387.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Almaqam

SPOTLIGHT:

Stanhope Gardens

NEWMARKET:

Bay City Roller

Daily Record:

Green Impact

D Express:

Stanhope Gardens

Daily Mirror:

Stanhope Gardens

The Star:

Stanhope Gardens

Daily Mail:

Bay City Roller

TOPSPEED:

Almaqam

POSTDATA:

Almaqam

LAMBOURN:

Almaqam

The Times:

Almaqam

Telegraph:

Almaqam

The Guardian:

Almaqam

The Sun:

Almaqam