14:05 York

Saturday 13 July 2019

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

John Smith's City Walls Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 58.16s

(1)

Caspian Prince^t⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 109| CD

7/2

Top-rated performer in the contest has won 19 times including at Group Two level (2017). Still a force at this level as shown with his close up third in a Sandown Group Three latest and a replication of that effort here would see him go close.

Form: 220-693

(4)

Copper Knight^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 106| BF| CD

2/1

Treble C&D winner from eight attempts has been in excellent form despite a now very difficult handicap mark. Has struggled in Pattern company in the past but is better than ever now so well worth another go; especially at this track.

Form: 421302

(2)

Dark Shot^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: B A Curtis| T: S Dixon| OR: 88| D

10/1

Been in good consistent form in handicaps until tacky ground latest saw him underperform. That can be excused but he was behind Copper Knight this season when receiving 14lb so task can't be overstated.

Form: 0-25220

(10)

Emblazoned^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 107

9/2

Progressive at three where he ended up placed in the Group One Commonwealth Cup before an injury curtailed his season. Encouraging return this season but flopped in Diamond Jubilee latest. Big drop in class now and makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 1133-20

(7)

Boundary Lane^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: G Lee| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 83| D

14/1

Doncaster winner first time out is yet to finish out of the first four in handicaps this season. That said she looks to have a huge task here on all known form and official ratings.

Form: 144223

(3)

Deia Glory²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: F Norton| T: M Dods| OR: 93| D

16/1

50/1 second in a C&D Listed race last August remains arguably her best form. C&D fourth and Ayr sixth in Listed races this season show her average level to be slightly below what is required.

Form: 8209-46

(9)

Poetry⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: David Egan| T: M L W Bell| OR: 99| D

4/1

Listed winner at two bounced back to form in her second start this term when fourth in Sandown Group Three. Neck behind Caspian Prince there and if she can reverse the from with him here she will go close.

Form: 5117-94

(5)

Yolo Again¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 89| D

25/1

Newcastle AW win latest the second success of a busy three-year-old campaign and on that evidence she is thriving on racing. Faces a huge task at this level however.

Form: 862971

Non-Runners

(6)

Final Venture²⁵

Weight: 9-1| Age: 7

T: P T Midgley J: Ronan Whelan

(8)

Little Kim¹

Weight: 8-5| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: A Elliott

Forecasts

Copper Knight (2/1), Caspian Prince (7/2), Poetry (4/1), Final Venture (4/1), Emblazoned (9/2), Dark Shot (10/1), Boundary Lane (14/1), Deia Glory (16/1), Little Kim (16/1), Yolo Again (25/1)

In a race where a whole host of these are closely matched the only one with the possibility of just being too classy is John Gosden's EMBLAZONED who managed thirds in Group Two and One races last term at three. He was disappointing at Royal Ascot but down three notches on the class ladder now he is taken to bounce back. Copper Knight has been running with enormous credit considering his often welter burdens in handicaps this season and will surely make a bold bid at his favoured track. Also of interest are closely matched Caspian Prince and Poetry.