York Thursday review: Reports, reaction and free video replays

State looks Great in Westow stroll

Great State completed a hat-trick in fine style under Oisin Murphy to lift the laurels in the Listed British EBF 40th Anniversary Westow Stakes at York on Thursday.

Michaela’s Boy set a furious clip under Freddie Larson, having broke smartly from the stalls in the five-furlong contest.

He was still in front with a furlong to race and despite drifting right, he stuck on well but had no answer to the Richard Fahey-trained winner (13/2), who picked up smartly on the stands rail.

The three-year-old grey, who had won at Southwell and Thirsk on his previous two starts, powered home to score by two and a half lengths from Pillow Talk, who pipped the long-time leader for third.

Fahey said: “We had a long discussion whether we kept this horse back for the sprint at Ascot (the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes) because we do like the horse and it’s not very often you have a horse rated in the 90s that you think is well handicapped.

“He won’t be well handicapped any longer, but I’m delighted for Sheikh Sultan.

“He’s a real dude, very laid back and easy to deal with, he’s a pleasure to train and I’m delighted to have him.

“I was a little bit worried because he’d been running on the all-weather and won on very soft ground last time and it was quick ground today, so I had the excuse ready if he did get beat.

“He’s a talented horse, I’ll talk to Sheikh Sultan and decide where to go.”

Murphy was on board due to a suspension being served by Fahey’s stable jockey, Oisin Orr.

“Oisin Orr would have usually ridden him but unfortunately he’s suspended today, so I stepped in,” said Murphy.

“He’s a horse that I’m sure everyone at Musley Bank is very excited about. He’s an improver and he’s a lovely horse.

“He probably would enjoy more juice in the ground and he’d stay a little bit further as he was on his head in the middle part of the race, but he got going when they slowed down.

“He’s definitely a horse on the up.”

Croupier the real deal for Value Bet followers

Value Bet selection Croupier held on grimly to win the Sky Bet Hambleton Handicap for training duo Simon and Ed Crisford.

The complexion of the race changed after market leader Assessment had to be withdrawn after bursting through the stalls at the start of the prestigious handicap, but the early gallop was strong and William Buick had Croupier restrained in third, just behind the leaders.

He took up the running halfway down the home straight and while Point Lynas and well-backed 7/2 favourite Northern Express lunged late inside the final furlong, 7/1 shot Croupier held on by a head and a nose.

There was a length back to Astro King (10/1) in fourth, with Blue For You fifth at 16/1.

The Crisfords doubled up when 3/1 favourite Chesspiece won the Collective Green Energy Handicap under Ryan Moore.

“He did it very well. It was just the third race of his life and we always felt he wanted a step up in trip,” said Ed Crisford.

“We were a little worried about the ground but he went on a fine and he’s got a big future. I’d say the Queen’s Vase would be the plan as an extra two furlongs would suit him well.”

Rogue makes Free Wind fight in Middleton

Free Wind won the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes but was given a fright by outsider Rogue Millennium and also had to survive a an inquiry from the stewards.

John and Thady Gosden's Free Wind, the mount of Frankie Dettori, was sent off the 6/5 favourite despite taking a drop in distance and having her first outing of the season, and ultimately it was her proven stamina that kicked in close home to seal the deal having looked under threat from Tom Clover's Rogue Millennium, a 20/1 chance.

Free Wind settled towards the back of the seven-runner field early on but made a smooth move to pick up the running from Poptronic in the centre of the track.

All the while Jack Mitchell had tracked Dettori's move on Rogue Millennium but the winner dug deep from two furlongs out, edging slightly to his right when initially challenged but holding away by half a length.

Paddy Power cut the winner to 20/1 from 25/1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a market headed by last year's Derby winner Desert Crown at 5/1.

Gosden senior said: “She got put through the rails at Haydock (last season). She got up and won despite that near fatal accident and has come back from a nasty injury and 10 months off.

“It was a long way for her to come back, physically and mentally. She’s done that and showed a great attitude, so we couldn’t be more pleased with her.

“She was running way below her trip today. She wasn’t originally in the race, but Mr (George) Strawbridge (owner) is over from America to see Epictetus run in the Dante and we thought we’d supplement Free Wind and run her, too.

“She’s done great as this trip is a bit sharp for her. She’s won a Park Hill over a mile and six furlongs, which is a slightly different ball game.

“We’re very clear that we’re going a mile and a half next time. She’s in the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot) and that would be a strong possibility at this stage.”

Tom Clover was understandably proud of the effort of the runner-up.

He said: “She ran a lovely race. Jack gave her a lovely ride, he followed Frankie the whole way. She takes a step forward with each run. She ran well in France and ran well in the Magnolia at Kempton when she didn’t get a clear run, and she didn’t in France either.

“She’s a really lovely filly, she’s improved from three to four, she was well sourced by the team and it’s great to have a high-class filly of this nature.

“It would be lovely to win a Group race with her this year, and the obvious next two targets would either be the Hoppings (at Newcastle) or the Pretty Polly in Ireland, so we’ll see.”

Cuban Thunder is electric in Knavesmire maiden

Cuban Thunder looks another Royal Ascot-bound juvenile for Amo Racing having won the Frank Whittle Partnership EBFstallions.com Maiden Stakes.

The Profitable colt was second on his debut at the Craven meeting to James Tate’s Blue Storm and the third, Hugo Palmer’s Hackman, came out and won well at Chester.

Sent off a heavily backed 5/4 favourite, Dominic Ffrench Davis’ youngster had to battle hard to gain the upper hand but eventually saw off a pair of newcomers in Charlie Appleby’s Impressive Act and Kevin Ryan’s We Never Stop by two lengths and a head.

The winner earned a 25/1 quote for the Coventry Stakes with Paddy Power, a race for which Kevin Stott looks likely to have the choice of a few.

Ffrench Davis said: “He ran a blinder at Newmarket and he’s such a laid back individual he was half-asleep that day.

“Today he was very different and I did think York might do that to him as they have to walk over the track and can get a little bit on their toes. I knew he’d cope with it, but he got a little bit warm.

“He was very professional in the race. Halfway through he switched off and Kevin wondered how well he was going, but he asked him to quicken and he was straight back on the bridle.

“He’ll get seven furlongs and he’s a lovely horse going forward. The team will have to decide about Royal Ascot, but he’d have to be in mind for the Coventry if there was bit of juice in the ground.”

Regional a local winner in opener

Regional maintained the fine recent run of form being enjoyed by North Yorkshire trainer Ed Bethell in the opening Lindum York Handicap on day two of the Dante Festival.

Bethell, who took over from retired father James a couple of seasons ago, has been operating close to a 30% strike-rate so far this year and added another to the tally as Callum Rodriguez steered the 5/1 shot to a half-length victory over fast-finishing Korker (13/2).

Regional, making his first appearance of the campaign having been third in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood during a light and unsuccessful 2022 campaign, was away brightly from stall three and soon held a share of the lead alongside course regular Copper Knight.

The winner held a definite advantage with a furlong and a half to travel and he was kept up to his work to beat Karl Burke's four-year-old Korker who came from much nearer the back of the pack.

Third went to 25/1 outsider Bedford Flyer on his first run for Mick Appleby.

Rodriquez said: "He's such a good, determined horse and he's been bouncing out of his skin in the past couple of weeks. The ground is perfect out there."

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