7f Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (2yo)
This is wide open. The favourite is a once-raced maiden winner that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Someone must be backing him for him to be that price, but they must know something I don’t. Yorkshire Gold looks interesting as he’s by Muhaarar, who I fancy to be a very good sire, but he was extremely green on heavy ground on debut so it’s impossible to weigh him up as a 12/1 shot in a decent race on a sound surface. I’m siding with VALDERMORO purely on the visual impression he left last time out. He bolted up at Doncaster showing an appreciation for fast ground, and he looked very classy with a smooth, long and rhythmic stride which should be seen to best effect on a flat track like York. Vitalogy will surely also run well as he looks very fast.
1pt win Valdermoro @5/1, 14:25 York, Wednesday
1m2½f (1m2f56y) Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+)
Crystal Ocean is all the rage for York’s big race because of his very dubious status as the world’s highest rated racehorse, courtesy of his recent form with Enable. He’s only ever won one Group One, over this trip but on far softer ground, and he’s never been been associated with speed. As such, 10f on good ground at York could be on the sharp side as there are plenty of proven 12f horses in opposition who should really beat him if they boast superior speed. I flirted with the idea of putting up Lord Glitters each-way at 33/1, as he’s a Group One horse who has never tried this trip, but has won over a furlong shorter at York and could very well thrive at the trip. I really fancy his chances of placing, but I hate betting each-way without much confidence the win is feasible. King Of Comedy clocked the fastest finishing time in the St James’ Palace Stakes, despite losing out to Circus Maximus, and he could have taken up engagements over a mile since Ascot but instead is aimed here. That’s got to be a fine compliment for his chances as trainer John Gosden is well stocked in middle distance horses, so I can’t really knock him except by pointing out the obvious: he isn’t a proven stayer. As such 4/1 is a bit short and, at the prices, I’m keen on JAPAN for Aidan O’Brien. He didn’t win the Derby but he’s fared by far the best of the Derby’s placed horses since, by winning easily at Royal Ascot and following up with Group One success in France, and he’s probably the best middle distance three-year-old colt in training at the moment – probably. He has been supplemented for this and his career is on an upwards trajectory, so 6/1 is well worth chancing.
1pt win Japan @6/1, 15:35 York, Wednesday
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