15:45 York

Saturday 11 July 2026

All14:0214:3915:1215:4516:2016:5517:30

John Smith's Cup (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 2m 9.35s

(20)

Respond^h³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 105| D

18/1

Better than ever since switching to front-running tactics, winning over 1¼m at Chelmsford and Chester. Posted another very good effort with second of 16 in handicap at Epsom (1¼m) last time. That form is working out well so he's a player off an unchanged mark.

Form: 5-21312

(9)

Warrant Holder^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 105| CD

3/1

Much improved on the back of being gelded this season, returning with C&D win before an excellent second of 17 in Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot (1½m) 22 days ago. Finished clear of rest there so merits serious consideration off the same mark.

Form: 1231-12

(13)

Yabher⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Hart| T: W J Haggas| OR: 104| D

7/1

Low-mileage son of Sea The Stars who resumed from 7 months off with an easy all-the-way success in 12-runner handicap at Newmarket (1½m) in May. Hiked up 12 lb but open to further progress and merits serious consideration for top yard.

Form: 92101-1

(8)

Thunder Run²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Shane Gray| T: K R Burke| OR: 103| CD

22/1

Scored over C&D last May and posted another good effort over C&D with second in 15-runner handicap in May. Not discredited when in midfield in Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot (1m) since so not out of things back up in trip.

Form: 640-720

(3)

Danger Bay⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: E Bethell| OR: 102| D

11/2

Lightly-raced son of New Bay who advanced his form on his reappearance with impressive victory in Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar (1¼m) in May. Up 8 lb but he's firmly in the picture with more to come.

Form: 2/3119-1

(2)

Will Scarlet^p¹⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Mason Paetel⁽⁵⁾| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 97| D

40/1

A multiple ex-French scorer who made it two wins in his last 3 runs for current yard in 9-runner handicap at Newcastle (1¼m) 16 days ago. Not taken lightly under a 5 lb penalty.

Form: 425191

(1)

Hand Of God⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 101| D

11/2

Smart winner at Royal Ascot in 2024. Had a disappointing 2025 but right back on song when resuming winning ways at Newbury (1¼m) 21 days ago. Can't be ruled out despite a 5 lb weights rise.

Form: 1/960-71

(6)

Quai De Bethune^h1³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rob Hornby| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 100| D

16/1

Signed off for Andrew Balding with victory in 1¼m Golden Gates at Royal Ascot last June. Changed hands for 775,000 guineas (also gelded) and shaped encouragingly with sixth of 16 in handicap at Epsom (1¼m) on his return last month. Hood added. Very much one to consider with that run under his belt.

Form: 14631-6

(21)

Dain Ma Nut In¹⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 99| CD

50/1

C&D winner last August. Kickstarted 2026 with win at Sakhir in January but only seventh of 10 in listed race there (11f) following month. Freshened up since but others look better treated at these weights.

Form: 1180-17

(17)

Auld Toon Loon^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 97| D

66/1

Posted a good third at Windsor in May and not seen to best effect when seventh of 16 in handicap at Epsom (1¼m) following month when left with a lot to do. No forlorn hope.

Form: 001-837

(14)

Raammee^h²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 95| BF

5/1

Looked a smart prospect when winning pair of 1m all-weather novices last autumn. All the better for his reappearance fourth when an excellent second of 12 in handicap at Sandown (1m) 4 weeks ago. Hood is retained and big shout off same mark with this step up in trip also a likely plus.

Form: 11-42

(11)

Iron Fist⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: O J Orr| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 95| D

22/1

Ended 2025 with a pair of 1m/1¼m wins and has continued on the up this season, third of 20 in handicap at the Curragh (1¼m) last time. This Irish challenger shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 161-023

(19)

Have Secret^v³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 94| D

100/1

Resumed winning ways at Pontefract in April but turned in a rare below-par effort when twelfth of 16 in handicap at Epsom (1¼m) last time. The sort to bounce back.

Form: 14-5150

(22)

Fantasy Believer²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: E Walker| OR: 93| D

100/1

Landed a useful handicap at Doncaster last September and made an encouraging return from 8 months off when fifth of 16 in handicap over C&D 29 days ago. Can take a step forward here.

Form: 37160-5

(12)

Sportingsilvermine⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Rossa Ryan| T: James Owen| OR: 86| D

22/1

Advanced his form of late, gaining a second success in his last 3 runs in 12-runner handicap at Newmarket (1½m) a week ago. Not out of things under a 5 lb penalty.

Form: 007131

(15)

Spell Master²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Jonny Peate| T: Oli Rix| OR: 89

40/1

Ended a light 2025 campaign with success at Newcastle (7f) in October for Andrew Balding/. Changed hands for 150,000 gns thereafter and took his form up a notch with third of 13 in handicap at Newmarket (1m) 22 days ago. Considered on his first go over this longer trip.

Form: 4/301-83

(7)

Castle Stuart^h²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 88

12/1

Dual winner for Karl Burke in 2024/25. In excellent form for his current yard, hooded when second of 16 in handicap over C&D last time. This keen-going sort enters calculations off the same mark.

Form: 47-6602

(18)

Altareq⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Lauren Young⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 83| D

25/1

Low-mileage Frankel colt who posted a career best when gaining a first win in 10-runner handicap at Ayr (1¼m) 6 days ago, always holding on. Can go well again under a 5 lb penalty.

Form: 2-33031

(10)

Rainbow Nebula¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Warren Fentiman⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87

66/1

Back to winning ways at Redcar (1m) in May and has continued in good nick, fifth of 9 in handicap at Newcastle (1¼m) 16 days ago.

Form: 1-01565

(16)

Salam Dubawi⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: A Mullen| T: J S Goldie| OR: 87

80/1

German 1m maiden winner for Andreas Schutz in 2025. Looked a different model when successful on second start for current yard at Hamilton (9f) in May. Backed that up with a good third of 10 in handicap at Ayr (1m) 6 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 61-0103

(4)

Per Contra^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| D

66/1

In good form this season without winning until only eighth of 9 in handicap at Newcastle (1¼m) 16 days ago. No surprise to see him get back on track here.

Form: 970348

(5)

Pearl River¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Hannon| OR: 88| CD

33/1

Doubled his tally over C&D in May and backed it up with a solid second of 3 in handicap at Salisbury (1½m) 11 days ago. More is needed from 3 lb "wrong" in the weights here, though.

Form: 31-5812

Result Amended

Danger Bay - Original Position 5th. Amended Position 4th.

Castle Stuart - Original Position 4th. Amended Position 3rd.

Salam Dubawi - Original Position 3rd. Amended Position 5th.

Forecasts

Warrant Holder (3/1), Raammee (5/1), Hand Of God (11/2), Danger Bay (11/2), Yabher (7/1), Castle Stuart (12/1), Quai De Bethune (16/1), Respond (18/1), Thunder Run (22/1), Sportingsilvermine (22/1), Iron Fist (22/1), Altareq (25/1), Pearl River (33/1), Spell Master (40/1), Will Scarlet (40/1), Dain Ma Nut In (50/1), Auld Toon Loon (66/1), Rainbow Nebula (66/1), Per Contra (66/1), Salam Dubawi (80/1), Fantasy Believer (100/1), Have Secret (100/1)

Roger Varian's lightly-raced RAAMMEE rates just the pick of the weights on the back of an excellent Sandown second and with this step up in trip also rating a positive, he looks the way to go in a cracking John Smith's Cup. Both Warrant Holder and Yabher also look to have better days ahead of them and rate major threats. Respond, Danger Bay and Quai De Bethune also warrant plenty of respect in this wide-open contest.