15:00 York

Saturday 25 August 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:20

Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 23.10s

(5)

Above The Rest^h⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 111| CD

12/1

Smooth winner of the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes (6f) at Newcastle in June, and that represented a clear career best effort following on from his prior 7f York handicap win; finished eighth of 18 in this race in 2017.

Form: 393711

(4)

Donjuan Triumphant²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 112| C| D

8/1

Both of his Haydock wins (6f-7f) last back-end were with some give in the ground, and he's had a light campaign this season owing to the prolonged spell of dry weather since finishing runner-up in a Listed race at Leicester in April; others sharper.

Form: 18-5524

(9)

Gordon Lord Byron¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Lee| T: T Hogan| OR: 108| CD

25/1

Past race winner, who has yielded over £1.1m in prize money (16-88) over the years; ageing, but finished runner-up in a 6f Group 3 at The Curragh last month, so still retains plenty of ability; finished seventh of 18 in this race in 2017.

Form: 65-5552

(8)

So Beloved^e/s²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: P Makin| T: D O'Meara| OR: 112| CD

16/1

A regular in this race, beaten just over 1L by Nemoralia in 2016, and fifth in a bunch finish to Talaayeb in 2017; has faced stiff tasks (including in a Group 1) since finishing second at The Curragh (7f, Group 2) last month.

Form: 282206

(7)

Suedois²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 115| D

4/1

Grade 1 winner at Keenland (1m, firm) not long after finishing third to Talaayeb in this race in 2017; back to his very best form in recent runs at Ascot (1m), and when a short-head runner-up in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes (7f) latest.

Form: 14-7032

(1)

Tabarrak⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Hannon| OR: 110| D

7/1

Got the better of a protracted battle with Mubtasim when winning a 7f+ Listed contest at Haydock (good/firm) in May and has more than held his own in Group 3 races since (form with So Beloved); makes his first start on the Knavesmire.

Form: 21-6134

(2)

Expert Eye²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 119| D

1/1

Rear division finish in the 2000 Guineas, but has returned to tip-top form since, absolutely bolting up in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot (7f), before a solid second to Lightning Spear in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes (1m); sets the standard.

Form: 19-2012

(3)

Arbalet^t²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S De Sousa| T: H Palmer| OR: 106| D

12/1

Carlisle novice winner in May (7f), but on the up since with a fifth placed finish (100/1) behind Expert Eye in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, and a fine ¾L second to Burnt Sugar in a 7f Class 2 Ascot handicap last month; more needed.

Form: 36-7152

(6)

Nebo¹¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: G Mosse| T: C Hills| OR: 106| D

40/1

Not seen in competitive action since racing freely and finishing last of 14 in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May; his earlier 7f Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes win (Newbury, October 2017) was recorded on soft ground; risky.

Form: 6321-60

Forecasts

Expert Eye (1/1), Suedois (4/1), Tabarrak (7/1), Donjuan Triumphant (8/1), Arbalet (12/1), Above The Rest (12/1), So Beloved (16/1), Gordon Lord Byron (25/1), Nebo (40/1)

Local trainer David O'Meara holds a strong hand in this Group 3 contest with race regular So Beloved representing a fair each-way angle, and the razor sharp (at present) Suedois expected to be firmly on the premises. That said; the standout form horse is EXPERT EYE. He put his 2000 Guineas flop behind him in no uncertain terms when putting 20 other rivals to the sword in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, and backed that up with a solid second in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. A return to 7f should suit, and he'll be tough to beat in this lower level of race.