14:40 York

Saturday 26 July 2025

All13:2514:0014:4015:2015:5016:2517:00

Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 2m 5.64s

(6)

Almaqam⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 117| D

6/4

Progressive at 3 and has taken it up another notch this year, proving 1¾ lengths too strong for subsequent Group 1 winner Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1¼m, good to soft) in May. Hard to beat.

Form: 1632-31

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(2)

Certain Lad⁷⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: George Bass| T: J Channon| OR: 112| CD

50/1

High-end handicapper earlier in career and successfully graduated to pattern company last year, gaining the second of his 2 wins on French soil in a Group 3 at Longchamp (1¼m, good to soft) in September. Third in a Group 2 there on return in April but last of 6 in Huxley a month later. Off since.

Form: 1221-36

(7)

Ecureuil Secret³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 112| D

50/1

Progressive at 3 for Edward O'Grady in Ireland and he took his form up a notch after 8 months off/gelded when impressively landing 13-runner handicap at Epsom (1¼m) in June. Only tenth of 16 in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot but it did come only 11 days after that big reappearance run. Freshened up.

Form: 3323-10

(3)

Royal Champion³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 115| D

8/1

Smart gelding who returned from a spell in Australia to win listed/Group 3 events on AW for new trainer Karl Burke over this winter. Only a neck behind Almaqam when fourth in Sandown Group 3 in April and a Royal Ascot Group 1 last month was always asking a bit much. This more his level.

Form: 201-147

(5)

Bay City Roller²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 110

12/1

Promising New Bay colt who was unbeaten in 3 outings over 7f as a juvenile, notably the Group 2 Champagne at Doncaster (good) in September. Two good runner-up efforts this year, latterly when stepped up to 1¼m for the first time in Saint-Cloud Group 2. Likely to go well again.

Form: 111-22

(1)

Green Impact²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 112

9/2

Respectable sixth in the 2000 Guineas on reappearance and built on that to win a 9f Leopardstown Group 3 in June. Ran about as well as could be expected when back at Group 1 level for the Irish Derby at the Curragh (1½m, good) 4 weeks ago, finishing 3½ lengths sixth of 10 to Lambourn.

Form: 211-616

(4)

Stanhope Gardens⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 111

9/4

Only narrowly denied by Delacroix in 1m Newmarket Group 3 (soft) on final 2-y-o start. Facile winner of 3-runner race at Salisbury on reappearance before finishing a fine 5¼ lengths fifth of 18 to Lambourn in Derby at Epsom (1½m, good to soft) 49 days ago. Remains open to progress.

Form: 312-15

Forecasts

Almaqam (6/4), Stanhope Gardens (9/4), Green Impact (9/2), Royal Champion (8/1), Bay City Roller (12/1), Ecureuil Secret (50/1), Certain Lad (50/1)

ALMAQAM has had the form of his Group 3 Brigadier Gerard success at Sandown strongly boosted and can now take the next step up the ladder and win at a slightly higher level. Stanhope Gardens ran a cracker in the Derby and is feared most ahead of fellow 3-y-o Bay City Roller, a good second in Group 2 company in France last time.