Sky Bet Sunday Series: Thirsk set for richest-ever raceday

Assuming that he hasn’t joined the rest of Scotland on their pilgrimage to Germany, (and his stable staff) will be focusing their attentions on Thirsk on Sunday as the Sky Bet Sunday Series returns to North Yorkshire. A total of £15,000 (£10k, £3k, £2k) will be paid out to the stable staff of the first three trainers in the Series and Goldie has had three winners in the series so far following the 22/1 success of in the closing race a fortnight ago.

Karl Burke is hot on Goldie’s heels, however, and has a leading chance on paper with newcomer in Sunday’s opening Cure Leukaemia Fillies' Novice Stakes at 15:45. She’s a half-sister to Mystic Pearl, who won as a juvenile, and is out of a mare who only went down by a nose on her own debut before winning on her next start. The best form on offer appears to lie with Alice Fairfax, who shaped with promise when fourth at Doncaster, runner-up and Goodwood fifth who became a Timeform ‘Horse In Focus’ with a taking run on debut. The twice-raced and are respected, while market support for would look significant given her speedy pedigree.

A strong pace appeared to play to the strengths of Paborus when he followed up his win with victory at and he's fancied to make a winning transition to handicaps and complete his hat-trick in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap at 16:15. A tongue-tie and a drop in class could help bounce back, while a fall in the weights should see fare better as she is fitted with cheek-pieces for the first time. is preferred to of the recent winners given his lower draw and the expectation that he will be ridden more prominently at a course that often favours those near the pace, while is open to improvement having been value for extra when winning at on reappearance back in April.

owes a carrot or two given that horse’s short-head win a fortnight ago helped the young Irish jockey land the £10,000 bonus given to the leading rider at each meeting of the Series, but she will need to improve again now dropped in trip for the 7f contest at 16:45. Expensive breeze-up recruit won all three starts at two and looks the sort who will go on improving so there seems no reason to think she won’t be tough to beat on her return here. Winning machine may not be done with yet, but her best form has come at shorter, so she is taken on along with York runner-up and the well-handicapped .

Hampden may have his supporters continuing the Scottish theme, but the tight nature of this track may not suit this big individual in the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap at 17:15. He remains of interest down the line, however preference here is for who was behind up at two weeks ago but should be more suited by the likely strong pace which his stablemate L’Eagle Aid should help set from stall 1. The obvious threats should come from a strong Newmarket representation led by Ascot winner and who is related to winners - including over this trip - and who may have been let in lightly on his handicap debut from a mark of 77.

was poorly drawn when beaten at Chester last month and with that run best excused is worth taking a chance on in the 5f sprint at 17:45. showed a good turn of foot – with his usual hood taken off – when winning at Goodwood last time, while C&D winner has started this season well handicapped and shaped as if retaining plenty of ability when doing too much on his reappearance last time. took advantage of his own falling mark last month, as did Catterick winner Tatterstall, while Kevin Ryan sprang a 28/1 surprise at Hamilton and could do the same with the speedy (same ownership) who swaps blinkers for cheekpieces. The in-form and are just two others to consider in a tremendously competitive contest.

Stayers are in the spotlight in the Sky Bet Club Handicap at 18:15 and this more conventional track should suit more than Hamilton last time when he, along with and were well-held behind a back-to-form . Kevin Ryan’s charge is 4 lb higher here but is fancied to defy his wide draw and win again as this appears to be his time of year (three of four wins have come in June or July). The lightly-weighted (and very well-bred) Letsbefrank will also be bidding to take a step closer to the £100,000 bonus which is on offer to the connections of the first horse to win three races across the Series.

Sunday’s meeting concludes with a 19-runner sprint for three-year-olds which should at least provide a good return if you can stumble upon the winner. won with a bit in hand at Catterick last time and, having taken his form up a level this season, could be up to defying a 5 lb higher mark. caught the eye when third at Redcar, having no extra to give only late on having gone enthusiastically, while Pinpoint, It’s Showtime, and all have a stronger book of form to their credit. looks a positive booking for top-weight who joins the visored-first-time Lachaber, a speedy front-runner who won a seller two starts back, on the rather lengthy shortlist.