York Horse Racing Tips

12 of the 16 runners have yet to see a racecourse in this juvenile novice, so not an easy race to assess. Richard Hannon took it 12 months ago with a newcomer and his representative this time, Persian Spring, already has the benefit of experience having finished fifth at Newmarket on debut. He should be seen to much better effect over the extra furlong today, but Karl Burke unleashes ROCK STEADY BEAT, a 110,000gns half-brother to high-class juvenile sprinter Happy Romance. He can be expected to know his job well and Burke won this in 2024 with a newcomer. Kevin Ryan tends to run his better 2yo's at this venue and he's represented by two with a chance in Sir Sirius, who is half-brother to a Listed winner, and Statten Island, a 180,000gns half-brother to smart sprinter Raaeb. Victory for either on debut would come as no surprise. Ed Walker's newcomer The Ginger Kid is from the family of Cheveley Park/Super Sprint winner Tiggy Wiggy and is afforded loads of respect also. 

A wide-open sprint, as the field size suggests, and loads to consider. There's plenty of pace low so let's go with AIR FORCE ONE, who emerges from stall 6 and ought to get a lovely tow into the race. A C&D winner last July, he was twice placed over an extended 5f here later in the summer and this will be his first run here since - he was in winning form at Beverley last time when scoring with more in hand than the result implies. Tim Easterby has a good record in this race courtesy of Copper Knight, the now 12yo having won it in 2019 and 2021. He enters the race off a win, is drawn low, and can go well again, while stablemate I'm Next is closely matched with the selection on Beverley form and has a nice draw potentially also. Of those drawn high, Hammer The Hammer returns with the trip in his favour while having had a wind op, while Jakajaro was a good winner at Newmarket last time and still looks competitively weighted.

A low draw is often preferable in this race and trainer David O'Meara has two in here coming from a single-figure stall with good chances in the shape of the progressive Walsingham, who emerges from stall 5, and CERULEAN BAY, berthed right next door in 6. The selection held his form well in top handicaps last season, twice winning at Goodwood and finishing a fine runner-up in a similarly competitive C&D handicap at the Ebor meeting. His reappearance fourth over 7f at Haydock was most promising and, back up in trip off the same mark, he's taken to score. Walsingham is stepping into a Class 2 handicap for the first time having scored with plenty in hand at Pontefract last time and this strong travelling sort could relish the demands of a race such as this in a big field. Thirsk Hunt Cup winner Mirsky is on a good mark still and is worth respecting also from stall 2, while Point Lynas will be doing well to win this from a mark of 109 but is drawn in stall 1 and his trainer has won this for each of the past two seasons. 

Fallen Angel is a five-time Group 1 winner - all over 1m - but she ran well in the Prix de l'Opera on her only previous try at 10f. She has a penalty for this return but could easily prove good enough. The selection, though, is last year's winner SEE THE FIRE. She hacked up by 12l on that occasion, again showing her liking for this venue, indeed her only defeat here came against the likes of Ombudsman and Delacroix in last season's Juddmonte International. She didn't have to be at her best to win at Nottingham on reappearance and should be spot on now. Diamond Rain ran a fine race at the Breeders' Cup when last seen and retains potential, while the versatile Fairy Glen has fitness on her side following back-to-back Group 2 wins, over 9f and then 2m, in Dubai earlier this year.

Traditionally the strongest of all the Derby trials, Aidan O'Brien bizarrely hasn't won it since 2010, but that losing run can come to an end here as he's represented by two with a good chance in the shape of CHRISTMAS DAY and Action. The yard has been cleaning up in the Epsom trials in the past couple of weeks and Ballysax winner Christmas Day can keep the good vibes going with him being the chosen mount of Ryan Moore. Progressive at two, he's now won back-to-back Group 3 events at Leopardstown and the long straight of over 4f here should suit his galloping style down the ground on this first try at Group 2 level. The son of Camelot is going to want 12f after this. It's too soon the give up on stablemate Action after his disappointing return at Sandown and he can emerge as the danger under Wayne Lordan. The son of Frankel rounded out last season by splitting fellow Ballydoyle inmate's Hawk Mountain and Benvenuto Cellini, who won easily at Chester last week, in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster and the tongue-tie is now removed which could see him return to form under a forward ride. The unbeaten Item shouldn't be underestimated, but Wise Prince, who travelled well when one place ahead of Action at Sandown, and Morshdi, winner of the Feilden, appear to hold more solid claims. 

This will be fast and furious with two notable front-runners drawn high. That could work against the standard setting Aspect Island who emerges from stall 2. He ran a fine race in the Group 3 Abernant on reappearance, though, when taking on his elders and was also Grade 1-placed at the Breeders' Cup, so he has the class to win. Although saddled with a Group 2 winners penalty, REVIVAL POWER is likely to be ready to run for her life on this return and is taken to earn a second C&D Listed success. She's all speed, very much in the mould of her sister Winter Power who won the Nunthorpe over C&D, and can overcome the weight disadvantage. If there's one who could upset the more established performers then it's Simplify, Andrew Balding's progressive filly who is chasing a four-timer following a striking handicap win at Thirsk last time. She's drawn in 9, so should take a nice lead off the front-runners drawn 10 and 11, and if they go too hard could be poised to strike in the final half-furlong.

A really competitive 3yo handicap with lots of likely improvers for the step up in trip and/or switch to handicaps. One who ticks both those boxes is KNIGHTSAIL, who is crying out for 12f and clearly needed his reappearance run at Nottingham - he travelled before getting outpaced and then rallying. He'd also caught the eye at Goodwood on his second run and should prove better than an opening mark of 76. There are plenty of dangers with Kempton winner Charles Darnay, a novice winner looking set to improve now on turf for the first time. He's preferred to Arc Ole Ole as the threat, although that one is on a hat-trick and promises to be suited by going beyond 10f for the first time. Others to consider include Hard To Believe, on a hat-trick for Andrew Balding now handicapping, Stoneacre Donny, who travelled well before getting a little tired on reappearance, and Heroics, who makes his handicap debut for an in-form yard.