15:00 York

Saturday 24 August 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1016:4517:20

Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 21.0s

(7)

Mr Lupton²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 110| C| D

33/1

Has won at up to 6½f, but best form at slightly shorter, and no impact when tried over 7f at the Curragh in July. Not up to Group 1 company at Deauville last time, and others are more appealing at these weights.

Form: 12-1660

(10)

Sir Dancealot⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: G Mosse| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 114| C| D

7/1

Has won the Group 2 Lennox Stakes over this trip at Goodwood for the past two years, and found ground softer than ideal when fourth at Newbury last time. Should bounce back, and solid place claims despite his penalty.

Form: 50-7414

(6)

Laurens²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P J McDonald| T: K R Burke| OR: 116| D

2/1

Runner-up in Lockinge Stakes on return, and best of those to race on the pace when sixth in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. Penalised for Group 1 at Deauville last time, but gives the impression she might relish this drop in trip, and leading claims.

Form: 118-261

(8)

Cape Byron⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 113| D

9/2

Flopped in the July Cup last time, but had impressed when winning handicaps at 7f/6f at Ascot on his previous two starts, and will find this company a bit less exacting than for his latest venture. Not ruled out.

Form: 227-110

(3)

Gordon Lord Byron¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-6| J: Colin Keane| T: T Hogan| OR: 106| CD

33/1

Veteran who retains all his enthusiasm and most of his ability, but has been beaten in lesser company several times this year, and a shock if he could repeat his second-place finish from last year, let alone his 2012 win in this contest.

Form: 433643

(9)

Le Brivido²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| D

5/1

Looked better than the result on his first couple of starts this season, but he's become a trifle disappointing at Group 1 level. This represents a drop in class, though, so he may make more impact.

Form: 6-35550

(1)

Speak In Colours^t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 111

7/1

Fine fourth in the Diamond Jubilee in June and narrow winner of a Listed race at the Curragh next time. Met trouble when 2¼L fourth to Sir Dancealot in the Lennox Stakes on his latest start, and certainly worth persevering with at this trip.

Form: 70-2414

(2)

Shine So Bright¹¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: A M Balding| OR: 111| D

6/1

Defied a big weight to land the 7f European Free Handicap at Newmarket in April, and better than the result in the 2000 Guineas last time. Will benefit from a return to this trip, and claims if 100% after an absence.

Form: 5333-16

(4)

Servalan¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 99

25/1

Much her best effort when landing a Listed race at Naas in July, but was 2¾L behind Gordon Lord Byron in Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh last time, and no obvious reason why she should turn the tables.

Form: 685-216

Non-Runners

(5)

Eqtidaar¹¹⁹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: Sir Michael Stoute J: Jim Crowley

Forecasts

Laurens (2/1), Cape Byron (9/2), Le Brivido (5/1), Shine So Bright (6/1), Speak In Colours (7/1), Sir Dancealot (7/1), Eqtidaar (10/1), Servalan (25/1), Gordon Lord Byron (33/1), Mr Lupton (33/1)

A Group 1 penalty is not to be taken lightly, but LAURENS looked both better and pacier than ever at Deauville last time, and she is well worth trying at this trip again given her forward-going nature. Speak In Colours is unexposed at this trip and should get closer to Sir Dancealot than he did at Goodwood last time, meeting trouble there, and better off at the weights now.