15:15 York

Saturday 28 July 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 2m 9.41s

(5)

Forest Ranger²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 113| D

5/1

Won the Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester (1m2½f, good) in May. Last of seven in the Group 1 Eclipse when last seen. Carries a penalty here and needs to bounce back, but should be much more competitive.

Form: 328-117

(3)

Brorocco^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: F Norton| T: A M Balding| OR: 95| D

12/1

Good handicapper over this trip and ran well enough here in such an event last time, when 5l fifth in the John Smith's Cup. This is tougher and he needs plenty of improvement to figure.

Form: 5-72435

(2)

Euginio^b²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 110| BF| D

9/1

Won a couple of good handicaps over this trip (good to firm and soft) last season, the latter from a mark of 102. Beaten 2½L by Forest Ranger in Group 3 earlier this season and placed twice in Listed races since. Each-way player.

Form: 51-3224

(6)

Thundering Blue¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Fran Berry| T: D Menuisier| OR: 102| CD

5/1

Decent handicapper who won such a contest over C&D in May (good to firm). Bettered that back here last time when 2¼L second in John Smith's Cup. More needed at this level.

Form: 17-5102

(1)

Euro Nightmare²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 99| D

25/1

Won Ayr's Listed Rothesay Stakes in May (1m2f, good to soft). Acts on sound/fast surface. Overall level of form not strong enough to make an impact at this level and not sure she has the necessary improvement in her.

Form: 9-02145

(7)

Smart Call²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 108| D

11/2

Group 3 winner at Newcastle last time, having run well behind Coronet over C&D in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes (good to firm) in May. Ideal conditions would be good, but acts on good to soft and looks a leading player.

Form: 467-731

(8)

Elarqam⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 115| BF| C

5/4

Dual winner last season, including here (7f, good to soft) on debut and then in a Newmarket Group 3. Reappeared with a career-best 2¼L fourth in the 2,000 Guineas. Not as good last time. Will probably get this trip. Claims if he can bounce back.

Form: 11-46

Non-Runners

(4)

Fabricate³⁹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: M L W Bell J: D Allan

Forecasts

Elarqam (5/4), Thundering Blue (5/1), Forest Ranger (5/1), Smart Call (11/2), Fabricate (8/1), Euginio (9/1), Brorocco (12/1), Euro Nightmare (25/1)

Half of this field can probably be confidently taken on for win purposes, as should come up short on class, but the age allowance, plus his sparkling Guineas effort suggest that ELARQAM can make it 2-2 at this venue, provided he can bounce back from his Irish adventure. Smart Call looks a threat, while neither Fabricate nor Forest Ranger is dismissed.