Yorkshire Cup: guide to runners and predicted finishing order

There cannot be many significant races in Britain and Ireland that Aidan O’Brien has not scooped, but the Boodles Yorkshire Cup is one of them.

That could all change on Friday because O’Brien, who is not often represented in the Group Two feature, has declared

Continuous

, winner of the St Leger in 2023.

However, it is the globetrotting Rebel’s Romance and consistent

Sweet William

who dominate the betting.

Here’s a guide to the final field of five, plus a prediction as to where each will finish. 

York

form: --. Official rating: 123. Odds: 13-8. 

The globetrotter stands out on official ratings and boasts a fabulous wins-to-runs ratio around the world, having landed 16 of his 24 races, seven of them being achieved at the highest level.

He was also far from disgraced when fourth in the Sheema Classic at Meydan last time, when proving vulnerable to younger rivals trained in Japan and France (Calandagan).

On the minus side, he’s got a 5lb penalty to shoulder and is unraced beyond 12 furlongs, although he’s hinted on several occasions that this kind of distance would be within his range, especially on a speed-favouring track such as York with the prospect of William Buick being able to dictate steady fractions. 

York form: 2. Official rating: 117. Odds: 7-4. 

The 2023 Ebor runner-up has gone on to prove a model of consistency in pattern company, establishing himself as one of the best stayers in training despite being something of a quirky character who needs delivering as late as possible.

He scooped the Henry II Stakes and Doncaster Cup last season, plus was placed in the Sagaro Stakes, Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Long Distance Cup.

He’s got no Kyprios to cope with on this occasion but he could do with the emphaisis being on stamina over this trip and that seems unlikely, with the ground quick and Rebel’s Romance being the one horse in the line-up who has made the running. 

York form: 17. Official rating: 110. Odds: 16-1. 

The most lightly raced runner in the line-up has a generally progressive profile and took his form up a notch when pouncing from off the pace (he’s habitually held up) to win the Group Three Silver Cup over course and distance in July.

He was suited by the combination of easy ground and strong pace that day, but this seems likely to be a different test against better opposition.

Alkasib ended last term with dull efforts in the Lonsdale Cup and Long Distance Cup, with the grey being gelded soon after. He may not be the easiest to place this season. 

York form: 31. Official rating: 112. Odds: 9-2. 

Finished a close third in the Dante two years ago and returned to York later that year to win the Great Voltigeur in great style, before scooping the St Leger and finishing a fine fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

That suggested he could be a force last year, but he had a disappointing campaign and this year has begun in the same vein, with defeats in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Much will depend on whether first-time blinkers, or returning to York, relights the fire of the five-year-old. 

York form: 654. Official rating: 110. Odds: 9-1. 

Ran well in a string of competitive handicaps last season, including when fourth in the Ebor and when landing the Old Borough Cup at Haydock (watch above) next time out.

His connections have had little option but to dip their toes in deeper waters and he’s coped well, landing a decent prize at Meydan in early January before running well in three other international assignments.

He has finished ahead of Continuous on his past two starts and is fancied to again be the pick of the pair, but he’s going to need a career best – or the principals to fluff their lines – to land the biggest success of his career. 

REBEL’S ROMANCE is unproven at the trip, but he’s the one runner in this field who is not usually held up and there’s a decent chance that William Buick will be able to dictate steady fractions before turning the screw. If he can effectively turn the race into a mile-and-a-half contest, then so much the better. The battle-hardened seven-year-old will be vulnerable to younger rivals as the season goes on, but he has no three or four-year-olds to contend with on this occasion. 

1 Rebel’s Romance. 2 Epic Poet. 3 Sweet William. 4 Continuous. 5 Alsakib.