13:50 York

Saturday 20 August 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 1m 48.02s

(7)

Bashkirova⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 106| BF| D

11/2

Came a long way in a short space of time at 3 yrs, winning her first 3 starts, and resumed progress when comfortably landing the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at the Derby meeting, Shade disappointing at Ascot but given a break and could easily redume progress.

Form: 117-215

(3)

Finest Sound^p,t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 108

25/1

No match for Grocer Jack in listed race at Newbury but was just ahead of Cadillac having given that rival a bump (second past the post but subsequently demoted). Revved up by application of cheekpieces and a change of tactics when winning 3-runner minor event at Thirsk (7f).

Form: 13-26D1

(4)

Marie's Diamond¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 102

18/1

Front runner who showed he's still capable of smart form when second to Alflaila in 1m Pontefract listed race in July. Upped to Group 3 company and clearly wasn't on his game at Haydock (hung right and dropped away).

Form: 504028

(2)

Alflaila²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 109

3/1

Well prepared to make a successful reappearance in handicap company and displayed a sharp turn of foot when adding to tally in 8-runner listed race at Pontefract last time. Runner-up to Mighty Ulysses at Newmarket prior to that.

Form: 46-1021

(8)

Masekela²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 106

28/1

Listed winner at 2 who was an excellent 8-lengths fourth in the Derby at Epsom in June. Evidence of both starts since suggests he was flattered by that form and he's now dropped markedly in distance.

Form: 14-2459

(1)

Mighty Ulysses⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 113

1/1

Improving colt who gained win number 3 back in calmer waters when making all in listed company at Newmarket last month, seeing off Alflaila fairly readily.

Form: 1-51251

(6)

Sonny Liston²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 106

16/1

Landed sole start at 2 yrs and stepped up without looking finished article when not beaten far in Feilden/Dee Stakes during the spring. Set a stiff task and never figured in the Derby but much more like it back it trip when third over 1m at Goodwood.

Form: 1-4303

Non-Runners

(5)

Cadillac³⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: K P De Foy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Mighty Ulysses (1/1), Alflaila (3/1), Bashkirova (11/2), Cadillac (13/2), Sonny Liston (16/1), Marie's Diamond (18/1), Finest Sound (25/1), Masekela (28/1)

MIGHTY ULYSSES responded really well when seeing off Alflaila at Newmarket last month, and with that just about the best weight-adjusted form on offer coupled with the promise of more to come, he will be hard to beat. Alflaila could be the chief rival again, with Bashkirova the pick of the older bunch.