TWITTER: @yorkracecourse

SKY BET SUNDAY SERIES DATE: Sunday 22nd May 2022

LOCATION: York Racecourse, Knavesmire Road, York, YO23 1EX

The City of York has a fascinating history dating back to Roman and Viking times, and horses raced in York during the days of Emperor Septimus Severus. York Corporation records show that the city first fully supported racing in 1530, with action taking place in various locations, including on the frozen River Ouse.

Racing transferred to the Knavesmire in 1730, with the opening fixture taking place the following year. The York Racecourse Committee (part of York Racecourse Knavesmire LLP) was formed in 1842 and still manages racing at York today.

York stages top-quality Flat action between May and October, with the prestigious Group One Juddmonte International the highlight of the opening day of the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival. With an extensive racecourse redevelopment taking place in Berkshire, York Racecourse stepped in to host the full five-days of Royal Ascot in 2005.

York is a left-handed, U-shaped course. The track is flat and fair and ideal for a strong-galloping type. Races take place on the straight track over 5f and 6f, with 7f contests commencing from a spur. Round course races were restricted to 1m6f (or less) until an additional section of track was added – across the centre – for Royal Ascot in 2005. York is now able to stage races over 2m and beyond.

As befits any Grade One racecourse, the racing surface and general facilities at York are always immaculately prepared. However, the racecourse has been known to face difficulties with the weather in the past (flooding can occasionally occur during the winter) and conditions can often become testing towards the end of the Flat racing season.

Great Habton trainer Tim Easterby (pictured) (12-113; 11%; +£7.25) topped the Knavesmire charts in 2021, with Andrew Balding (9-34; 26%; +£55.75) and Richard Fahey (7-71; 10%; +£5.25) next best. The Kingsclere handler Balding was responsible for saddling various high-profile winners, including Nymphadora (Marygate Fillies’ Stakes), Spanish Mission (Yorkshire Cup), Johnny Drama (John Smith’s Cup), Bangkok (Sky Bet York Stakes) and Valley Forge (Melrose Handicap).

Looking back slightly further over five years, Richard Fahey (32-416; 8%) narrowly edges out Tim Easterby (29-364; 8%), with William Haggas, Mark Johnston and John Gosden also responsible for providing a respectable tally of Knavesmire winners.

“York is a great fair track, and usually on the day the best horse wins. I find that horses go out there and gallop with confidence because it is so flat and every footstep coming back at them is the same. Obviously, a horse must possess a fair bit of ability to compete.”

Tom Marquand (9-48; 19%) enjoyed a fine season at York in 2021, with David Allan (6-44; 14%; +£24.75) and Callum Rodriguez (5-23; 22%; +£28.08) in close pursuit. Both Allan and Rodriguez recorded notable healthy level stakes profits. The former courtesy of the sprinter Copper Knight (an 11-2 & 18-1 winner) and the latter courtesy of Volatile Analyst (a 9-1 & 11-1 winner).

The popular Scot Daniel Tudhope – stable jockey to David O Meara - comes out top at York over the last five years (26-228; 11%) ahead of Frankie Dettori (17-67; 25%) and David Allan (17-171; +14.62).

“York is my favourite track. It is a great track, a fair track, and you don’t tend to get too many hard luck stories there. Being so flat, you do need a horse with speed. You need to be able to jump from the stalls and travel. York has over twenty-two miles of drainage, so even later in the season wouldn’t get as testing as elsewhere.”

The classy and pacy filly Winter Power (Tim Easterby) was unbeaten in three starts at York in 2021. She landed the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival. Others with strong records last season include the much-missed Snowfall (2-2; Musidora Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks), Master Milliner (2-2), Lusail (2-2) and Volatile Analyst (2-3).

The brilliant stayer Stradivarius is also unbeaten on the Knavesmire (5-5), with three of those victories coming in the Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup (2018, 2019 and 2021). Other horses to be acutely aware of at York include Copper Knight (6-17; +£41.50) and Dakota Gold (5-10).