York 15/05/2019

1.50 York | Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap
Stealth Fighter 12-1 Paddy Power
Godolphin won the Jorvik Stakes last year with Hamada and I think they can do so again with Stealth Fighter at the bottom of the weights. The race looks a thoroughly competitive affair full of unexposed types, but this four-year-old very much fits into that category having had just five runs. On paper he was disappointing on his second, third and fourth starts after winning a Beverley novice but he looked a totally different animal when stepped up from 7f to 1m2f last time out at Yarmouth. The form of that doesn’t look anything special but he looked to sprout wings in the final furlong, recording an RPR of 94, and his pedigree suggests he should relish this additional two furlongs. By Kodiac, who has produced his fair share of decent middle-distance performers such as Stealth Fighter’s stablemate Best Solution, his dam stayed 1m4f and her half-sister Ithoughtitwasover was a multiple winner over 1m4f for Mark Johnston. His trainer Saeed Bin Suroor has been in excellent form recently, boasting a 25 per cent strike-rate in the last fortnight, and both of Stealth Fighter’s wins have come on good to firm ground. I’d be very disappointed if he wasn’t better than a mark of 90.

3.00 York | Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes
Major Jumbo 14-1 Paddy Power
It could well be that Invincible Army strides away with this Group 2 but he has flattered to deceive on the big day before and I think Major Jumbo is a cracking each-way bet. A good second to Invincible Army in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on reappearance, he followed that effort up with another solid effort over five furlongs in the Palace House Stakes behind Mabs Cross and Equilateral. That form looks the strongest on offer and considering he appears to be better over six furlongs – he had Equilateral behind him over that trip at Doncaster – another top performance here looks likely. He always tends to run well at the track, with six runs yielding two wins, two thirds and a fourth, and seems to be getting better and better.

4.05 York | Conundrum Rowing For Christian Hobbs Gym Handicap
Space Blues 8-1 William Hill
The Godolphin theme continues in the 7f handicap but this time I’m plumping for the topweight Space Blues. He beat Private Secretary and Technician in a Nottingham maiden back in November, the former has won his next two starts in the style of a very decent animal and is rated 92 following an easy handicap win at Sandown last time. He is entered in the Listed Fairway Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday and could well be better than a handicapper. Technician won on his next start at Leicester and looked unlucky in the Classic Trial at Sandown when second to Derby contender Bangkok. He didn’t look to enjoy a single second of the Chester Vase last week and that run can be discounted, but he is still rated 103. Space Blues was far too keen on seasonal reappearance in a red-hot conditions race at Newbury won by the 106-rated King Ottokar, who momentarily looked the winner of the Chester Vase before blatantly not getting home, and out-and-out stayer Dashing Willoughby, who was second at Chester. Space Blues was strong in the market that day, so connections clearly think he is very good and I wasn’t disheartened by his defeat to Fifth Position last time, when only a head separated them and they pulled well clear. This step back to 7f should be ideal and considering he has form with some of the best three-year-olds around, a mark of 93 looks exploitable. 8-1 is an insult and will not last long.

Prices correct at time of writing