1:50 – Class 2 Handicap
Global Storm 15/2 – Charlie Appleby, Harry Davies (7)
Gaassee looks to be well-fancied on his seasonal debut for trainer William Haggas who is currently recording a 37% strike-rate with his runners in the past two weeks.
The Sea The Stars four-year-old colt only made his racecourse debut in September, and has run a total of four times.
Three of his runs have come on the all-weather, but he did make an impressive appearance on turf at Chester in October.
However, the selection is Global Storm who benefits from promising young apprentice Harry Davies claiming 7lbs.
He has already made two appearances this year, both over 1m4f at Meydan, finishing first in a handicap, beating 102-rated Alignak whilst giving him 5lbs, before finishing third in a Group Two won by Hukum.
On ratings he is the strongest contender, but he has disappointed at York before, finishing tenth of twenty in the Ebor Handicap last August.
In this smaller field he should do better, and is perhaps slightly overpriced.
Of the others, Zabeel Champion is the big outsider of the field but is an interesting runner having switched yards to Jonjo O’Neill’s last summer.
He has been running over hurdles since, but returns to a more familiar discipline here.
An imposing type, he has been a useful performer in his career to date, but probably has a bit to find with the favourites and has a difficult task off a rating of 103.
3:00 – Duke Of York Stakes (Group Two)
Spycatcher 11/1 (EW – 4 places) – K R Burke, Clifford Lee
In what is an extremely competitive contest, with ten runners set to go to post, there could be an opportunity for Spycatcher to sneak into a placed-finish.
He has been performing on the all-weather of late, and was most recently seen at Newcastle last month finishing third.
He didn’t get the smoothest of runs there, and there’s certainly more to come from him.
It’s difficult to know if he’ll be up to the task against some tough opponents here, and he’d probably need to run to a career-high mark to win, but he is a consistent horse and he’s finished second in a Group Three here before.
3:35 – Musidora Stakes (Group 3)
The Algarve 8/1 (EW – 2 places) – Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore
Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-olds have been performing extremely well and the stable has been winning most Classic trials.
With all of these fillies unexposed and inexperienced it may be worth looking away from the odds-on favourite, Emily Upjohn.
She could well be a special filly, but the yard hasn’t appeared to be in the strongest form despite recording a 23% strike rate in the past two weeks.
The Algarve steps up in trip and has run against some promising fillies in previous races, including recent Group Three winner History.
There could be plenty more to come from her.
4:45 – Class 4 Handicap
Kasperenko 28/1 (EW – 5 places) – E J Alston, David Egan
Kasperenko recorded a course and distance win here off a 1lbs higher mark when making his debut for new yard back in September.
He returns to the track following a number of disappointing performances.
But, he has been running on an all-weather surface, which may not have been to his liking, and a resurgence could be possible back at a course where he has proven form.
He is a big price with 5 places available in each-way markets.
By Katie Midwinter (10/05/22)
THE CONDITIONAL 