The 2020 Sky Bet York Stakes: Runner-by-runner guide to Saturday's feature

The £55,000 Group Two Sky Bet York Stakes (2.40pm) is the highlight of the action on the Knavesmire on Saturday with nine runners entered for the 10-furlong event which you can watch live on Racing TV.

First run in 2006, the contest is open to three-year-olds and upwards and can serve as a trial for the Juddmonte International back at York in August.

Twice Over, Sri Putra, Mukhadram and Thundering Blue are some of the past winners of the contest and 2019 hero Elarqam is bidding to become the first horse to win multiple renewals.

Will Elarqam create history, or will he be upstaged? Here’s a guide to all the contenders plus our big-race verdict.

Trainer: Roger Charlton. Rating: 116. Sponsor's Odds: 11-2.

Positives: Globetrotter who won a Group One in Germany and a Group Two in France last season. He shaped nicely on his return to action when second in a Listed contest at Sandown and is proven on the ground. The son of Al Kazeem is lightly-raced for his age and has been trained like his sire by Roger Charlton, plus he looks like a horse who is going to continue to improve with age.

Negatives: His best effort in Britain was a second-placed effort in the John Porter at Newbury in April 2019 and he will need to take another step forward based on that form to capture this event. He also looks a type who is better over 12 furlongs, which brings his stamina more to the fore.

Verdict: More improvement is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility but this trip looks to be on the short side and he is opposable despite holding live each-way claims.

Trainer: Mark Johnston. Rating: 119. Odds: 9-4 favourite

Positives: Highest-rated horse in the race and the defending champion. He was a facile three and a quarter-length winner of this event last term, before meeting trouble in running when a close third in the Juddmonte International back on the Knavesmire in August. He is clearly a course specialist having won two of his three starts at the track and he brings solid form to the table this term when beaten a short-head by subsequent Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winner Lord North in the Brigadier Gerard.

Negatives: Arguably a better horse with a bit of cut in the ground, last year’s victory came on soft ground and lightning fast going could be a concern. The son of Frankel was disappointing in the Hardwicke at the Royal Meeting and, whilst he is a deserving favourite, questions remain.

Verdict: A horse who relishes this course and distance, it would be folly to discount his chances. However, his latest effort, despite coming over a longer trip, leaves nagging doubts and he could be worth taking on.

Trainer: Andrew Balding. Rating: 110. Odds: 13-2

Positives: Creditable third in a Listed event last time and the fourth (Global Giant) has advertised the form by winning since. A lightly-raced son of Kingman who has only had six starts to date, he clearly retains plenty of potential and represents a trainer having a fine season.

Negatives: Found the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot too hot when only tenth and he will need to take another step forward to land a first Group prize. Being a dual Listed winner, he has the scope for further improvement, but he would prefer some cut in the ground and has 9lb to find on ratings with Elarqam.

Verdict: Clearly a horse who is improving with every start. However, he needs to prove he has the class to compete at this level and with that in mind, he looks best watched.

Trainer: John Gosden. Rating: 115. Odds: 15-2

Positives: A mercurial talent who would have won the 2019 St James’s Palace Stakes in another stride. He was far from disgraced in the Juddmonte International when fourth later that season and may have needed his first run back this term when second in Group Three company at Newbury. Ground conditions are a major positive and he still remains open to further improvement.

Negatives: For all his ability, he is clearly very frustrating. The son of Kingman is a difficult ride and did not help Martin Harley last time when failing to settle and carrying his head awkwardly in the closing stages. That does not augur well for Saturday’s contest which is over two furlongs further.

Verdict: It would not be the biggest shock if he finally put it all together and won a big one like this. However, given his idiosyncrasies and concerns over this trip, despite his fourth in the Juddmonte last summer, he looks a high-risk play in this event for a trainer chasing his second success in the race (Pipedreamer, 2008).

Trainer: David O’Meara.__ Rating: 114. Odds: 11-1

Positives: A high-class performer who recorded his biggest success in the 2019 Queen Anne Stakes. The Whipper gelding also boasts winning form at York having captured the 2018 Strensall Stakes over nine furlongs. He made a very pleasing return to action in the Summer Mile at Ascot earlier this month when a fast-finishing fourth and should strip fitter for that reappearance at a track which will suit, with ground conditions potentially a positive.

Negatives: He is now a seven-year-old and while he clearly retains plenty of ability, he is going up against a number of unexposed types. His Ascot run was his first start outside of Group One company since that win in the Strensall but it is questionable as to whether there is more improvement to come at his age.

Verdict: A live each-way player who was a major eyecatcher last time out and will relish quick ground. However, he looks to have his work cut out against some intriguing younger rivals if he is going to return to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since that Queen Anne Stakes triumph.

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute. Rating: 116. Odds: 8-1

Positives: Another enigmatic performer who clearly has latent ability when he puts it all together. He ran well on ground that was softer than ideal behind Mountain Angel at the Royal Meeting before being far from disgraced when sixth in the Coral-Eclipse last time out. He certainly has the class to play a role in this event and will be partnered by Hollie Doyle, who is riding with plenty of confidence at the moment.

Negatives: His idiosyncratic nature is clearly the concern, however, he has looked more relaxed in this races since a gelding operation. Another concern is his disappointing showing when a well-beaten fourth in this contest last year and he is also winless in his last six starts.

Verdict: A fast pace will suit the Intello gelding, but he needs to regain the winning thread and his poor effort in the 2019 running is not easy to forgive.

Trainer: Hughie Morrison. Rating: 113. Odds: 100-30

Positives: A major player. He was scintillating when returning to winning ways in a Group Three event at Longchamp on his latest start and this race looks a perfect fit. Already successful over the course and distance when defeating Too Darn Hot in the Dante last season, that win came on good to firm ground and quite clearly, this is his preferred trip. He has 6lb to find on ratings with market rival Elarqam and finished behind him in the Brigadier Gerard earlier this season. However, he is a rapidly improving four-year-old who has trip and ground conditions in his favour.

Negatives: In terms of form, he was a length and a quarter behind Elarqam in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes and needs to reverse that here. Tactics could also be an issue given he may prefer to make the running with not many pace angles amongst the entries.

Verdict: The boy can become a man. Telecaster remains a very exciting prospect and this could be the start of a sustained period of success for Hughie Morrison’s stable star. A course and distance winner, ground conditions are in his favour and he looks the most likely winner.

A fascinating and ultra-competitive renewal of the Sky Bet York Stakes, provided most stand their ground at the final declaration stage. Elarqam holds leading claims of recording successive victories in this event and has a penchant for York with two previous victories on the Knavesmire. However, he was disappointing at Royal Ascot last time and he may prefer more cut in the ground.

Preference is therefore for the upwardly-mobile TELECASTER. He looked right back to his best when easily capturing a Group Three event at Longchamp and this track and trip suit as highlighted by his success in last year’s Dante Stakes.

He could get an easy lead out in front and make this is a stiff test of stamina for his rivals. Hughie Morrison has always held this horse in high regard, and this looks a perfect opportunity to plunder more Group-race honours with the exciting four-year-old.