Sky Bet City Of York: guide and prediction

What was Deauville’s loss is York’s gain. ROSALLION (13-8) was not meant to line up here this weekend, with connections having opted for a run in last Sunday’s Prix Jacques Le Marois, but after being declared a non-runner for his French assignment on Friday morning due to a bruised foot, he has been re-routed to the Knavesmire.

The son of Blue Point was around the 5-1 mark for this race prior to that news, but has now unsurprisingly shortened dramatically.

He has not won for over 14 months, but that does not tell half the story. 

He missed the remainder of the 2024 season after winning the St James’s Palace Stakes, finished third on his reappearance in the Lockinge, and then on another day, would likely have won both the Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes.

He ultimately found Docklands, and then the re-opposing Qirat in front of him crossing the line in those races, and though he sets the standard here, he is becoming frustrating and has not had the perfect prep.

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Certainly one of the revelations this season, Andrew Balding’s NEVER SO BRAVE (11-4)  is also set to line up here.

He fully warrants being stepped up to the highest level after handling the rise from handicaps to Group Two company with aplomb last time, comfortably beating Haatem in the Summer Mile.

He will stepping back down from a mile to run over the trip which saw him record an empathic success in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Fast ground will suit.

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One horse that this race has always been the plan for, certainly for the past two months, is French raider MARANOA CHARLIE (6-1).

He was acquired by Bond Thoroughbred Limited (based near Pocklington, Yorkshire) two months ago and was only narrowly denied on his first run in the familiar yellow and black colours in the Group One Prix Jean Prat when last seen.

The Wootton Bassett speedball gets a handy 5lb from his older rivals (three-year-olds won five successive renewals between 2015 and 2019 but have not won since) and is likely to either make the running or be prominent.

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Outside of that trio, the odds get  bigger. Leading the challenge looks to be LAKE FOREST (12-1), who having beaten Lazzat in November, has some of the best form on offer in this race, but has not tasted victory since.

His fifth in the Queen Anne was a top effort, however, and he was second in the Lennox last time over a more suitable 7f. 

He disappointed here in the Criterion Stakes in June, but that was just 11 days after his Group One Royal Ascot assignment, and he won the Gimcrack on his only other run at York.

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The only three-year-old filly in the race, EXACTLY (20-1), is Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative, and this is one of the few races that the master of Ballydoyle is yet to win.

Yet to win away from Leopardstown, this daughter of Frankel was third in the French 1000 Guineas before finishing sixth in the Coronation and fifth in the Prix Rothschild. 

She has placed in seven of her 11 races and gone close in another, but will need to improve stepping down in trip and a nagging concern is that her worst performance of the season came on fast ground. 

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️

Another in the middle-section of the betting market is AUDIENCE (16-1), who knows what it takes to win a Group One, the son of Iffraaj having landed the Lockinge Stakes as a ‘pacemaker’ last year.

He went on to win the Lennox Stakes by four lengths before only managing fourth of six runners went sent off at odds of 4-7 for this race 12 months ago.

His third in this year’s Lennox last time was an improvement over recent efforts, but stll has plenty to prove.

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️

Few could have imagined that, after being narrowly beaten off 99 in the Victoria Cup and trailing home 27th in the Royal Hunt Cup, QIRAT (18-1) would be a Group One winner this season.

His 150-1 triumph in the Sussex Stakes was aided by a sedate early paceand a well-judged ride from Richard Kingscote, who slowly increased the fractions running right-handed down the hill.

If you take that form literally, he has a great chance of landing this race over 7f, but the fact he is an 18-1 chance in places probably tells its own story. 

Would be another surprise winner, but he has a decent enough draw and does tick some trends as being in the right age bracket (4-6), proven top-level form, and having won over this trip.

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️

There will surely be a few more wild celebrations on the Brighton & Hove Albion team bus up to Merseyside if SEAGULLS ELEVEN (25-1) gets his head in front.

Hugo Palmer’s three-year-old won the Thoroughbred Stakes over a mile on soft ground at Goodwood, but York will be a different test.

Had previously chased home the smart Opera Ballo at Newmarket on fast ground and will be making his York debut.

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️

Another outsider coming into the race in winning form is TEN BOB TONY (50-1). He is by the right sire in Night Of Thunder and beat a dual City Of York winner in Kinross last time in the John Of Gaunt Stakes – a career best performance.

That was his first run for 203 days having been gelded since last season, and he has not been seen since having been declared a non-runner at Goodwood. Needs to improve, but can outrun his odds.

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A course and distance winner this season having made all to land the Criterion, the hugely likeable QUINAULT (25-1) will be running in just his second domestic Group One. Likely to be ridden up with the pace, he will need to show more than the fourth-placed effort he managed in the Lennox when last seen.

Given he is three from three at the track, however, he may be being underestimated by some.

Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ANNAF (66-1) has not won in Britain for 22 months and has it all to do to be involved, for all he has plenty of speed.

Star rating: ⭐️