Two Tribes ran well at Newmarket on his seasonal return and his one visit to York saw him run a fine race in the face of adversity at the Ebor meeting. Ryan Moore is booked and he is handicapped to go well but there is a slight niggle about stall 15 with the stalls on the far side and the best pace looking to be amongst the low numbers. Better is expected from the well-handicapped Ramazan (second choice) today, while stablemate Prince Of Pillo comes here on the back of a good win on AW and Holkham Bay shaped well last time but has something to prove on fast ground. Kevin Ryan has won the last two renewals of this race and saddles a couple of live contenders in Bergerac and WE NEVER STOP. The former, who lurks on a dangerous mark isn't the most consistent but has the ability to feature. His stablemate We Never Stop has been in rude health on the AW this winter, overcoming a tricky draw at Newcastle on Good Friday, and he could take some pegging back at a track where early speed so often proves crucial.[Paul Smith]
Watch Live UK & Irish Racing
Simply place a bet of £5 or more on
any UK or Irish race to watch the action live!
Classy sprinter whose propensity to fluff the start has meant he hasn't won as often as his ability dictates; running at the Dante meeting for the fifth year in succession and his formfigures read 2124; those runs have been at 5f but he's fully effective over 6f, as when second over C&D last July and third in the Ayr Gold Cup; this year's AW runs not the ones to judge him on; likely to go well but slower ground would probably be ideal for him.
His last success came in a Listed event over C&D in September 2023; 0-10 last year but ran some mighty races, notably a third over C&D at the Ebor meeting when rated 5lb higher; looked a bit rusty on his Leicester reappearance last month but the run was better than the distance beaten might suggest; stable won this with a similarly doughty 8yo in Dakota Gold in 2022.
Made good progress last season, winning handicaps over C&D and twice at Ascot (5f and 6f); unplaced twice this year but looked to need the run at Southwell and then met plenty of trouble at Goodwood 12 days ago (saw little daylight between 2f out and 1f out as the race was unfolding); 1lb lower today and Oisin Murphy, who won on him at Ascot in October, takes over; still has something to prove on good to firm, albeit he had a bleak draw when well held at the Ebor meeting last year.
A gelding operation after last summer's Ebor meeting has seen him make good progress over the winter, winning three good 6f handicaps on AW, notably the big sprint on Good Friday; while his prominent racing style was an asset in that race, he did overcome stall 2 (the next five home were drawn 16, 10, 12, 13 and 11) and a 3lb rise is fair; promise over C&D in his youth and fast ground no problem; looks the likeliest leader and he'll take some pegging back; yard bids to win the race for the third time in succession.
Numerous fine efforts in top handicaps, runner-up in the 2023 Ayr Gold Cup and filling the same berth in last year's Victoria Cup and Great St Wilfrid; not sparkled in two 7f handicaps this season but he's dropped a handy 5lb and his rider claims a valuable 3lb too; better expected this time.
Won twice for Michael Dods last season, both on good ground over 6f and 7f; only 1lb higher than for the latter success and his reappearance at Doncaster in March can be overlooked as he was drawn on the wrong side and also got no run 1f out; this might just be a shade too competitive for him.
A wind operation last summer appears to have had a positive effect and he recorded his best RPR to date when winning a ten-runner Class 4 handicap at Thirsk (6f, good) 11 days ago; has a 4lb higher mark and stronger opposition to contend with this time.
Smart 2yo; hasn't stood much racing in recent years but he's been back in the groove this year, winning 6f AW handicaps at Lingfield and Southwell; the handicapper could have taken a dimmer view of the latest win 17 days ago and a bold bid looks on the cards.
Won three of his first five starts for Roger Varian, including an AW handicap off a 4lb higher mark; well beaten in two good sprint handicaps on turf last summer, after which he was sold for 45,000gns; had wind and gelding operations prior to this stable debut; returns in a hot race but not fully exposed just yet.
Only has one win to his name but often acquits himself with credit in deep handicaps, as when narrowly beaten into third at Newmarket 11 days ago (6f, good); only had one York run and he would have gone close granted any sort of run in the valuable C&D handicap at the Ebor meeting last summer; that was off today's mark and he's sure to be popular with Ryan Moore booked; whether stall 15 is beneficial is the slight query.
Two course wins, including this trip on fast ground; back to the same mark as when winning last summer's Gosforth Park Cup and his Ayr Silver Cup third last September, when best of the low numbers, was further confirmation that a cavalry charge is no problem for him; two runs this year should have him spot on for this and he helps form a strong hand for Kevin Ryan.
Good strike-rate since handicapping and he has looked as good as ever in defeat this year, latterly just failing at Newbury (6f, good); style of racing lends itself to this track; stall 16 a potential stumbling block with the best pace looking to be drawn low.
Enhanced his good record fresh when narrowly landing a big-field Doncaster handicap (6f, good) in March; blew the start at Newmarket four weeks ago and that not the run to judge him on; course winner (7f) who still has handicapping scope off this mark.
C&D winner in his pomp; only 1lb higher than for last summer's Yarmouth success but he needs to leave this year's two turf runs well behind; cheekpieces the headgear of choice this time.
He has hit the ground running in 2025, winning a Class 5 at Catterick on his return and adding further successes at Pontefract and Ripon (all 6f on good); thriving but he's effectively 7lb higher under his penalty and this is a different calibre of opposition.
Ran okay in form terms at Leicester 18 days ago but it was a backward step from his promising reappearance at Newbury; has races in him off his current mark but perhaps not this one.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4,5
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
