York - Fri 24 Jul 2026
Golden Strike will appreciate this drop back in trip and could be thereabouts. He won over C&D in May with QUEST FOR FUN not far behind in third, although the latter is fancied to take revenge on more favourable terms. The winner of this contest in 2023, Tim Easterby's charge also dead-heated for first in last year's renewal and another bold bid is anticipated. Alpha Capture arrives in good heart and is not ruled out either.
Rogue Empire landed a hat-trick in fine style when successful on the turf at Lingfield. The gelding could still prove competitive despite an 8lb hike, but a chance is taken on another son of Time Test in the shape of TALISMANS TIME. Ed Bethell's charge was well clear of the rest when finishing a determined third over 1m6f here last month and this extra yardage could eke out further improvement. Midnight Rumble also warrants respect.
CORAL COVE boasts the strongest piece of form. The daughter of Lucky Vega made a highly encouraging debut when finishing a close second at Doncaster and beating a subsequent winner in the process. She could prove hard to beat with James Owen's yard firing on all cylinders. The First Drop showed plenty of promise when runner-up at Carlisle on his introduction and may well improve past the more exposed Travellers Girl.
Dicko The Legend is certainly living up to his name, winning this race in 2024 and 2025 and he is back for more racing off a similar mark as last year after finishing fifth at Pontefract last week. He can go well but the younger hat-trick seeking WHO WANTS ME might be the one. April wind surgery has helped her win her last two at Carlisle and Ayr with the possibility of more to come. Ingleby Archie is consistent and is another for the shortlist.
Three-year-olds have a good record with seven of the last 10 winners and they are represented here by Sandown third Estissa and Oaks seventh On Message who may just prove the better of the two. Regal Charm strolled home on her return in a Salisbury handicap but has been found out at this level before, and preference is for DIAMOND RAIN. Only beaten a short-head at Newcastle in a Group 3 and placed at up to Grade 1 level she ought to prove too good for these.
Slot remains a maiden after seven starts but has finished second at both Newcastle and Nottingham this summer and she could get involved off bottom weight with the drop back in trip seemingly a bonus. DOLOS DREAM can be forgiven her Chester fifth where the softer ground was against her and is likely to try to make all as she did to win on a sounder surface at Pontefract in June. She could hold off Nursia, who is also expected to be far happier on this going.
ALPHA CAPTURE has been in excellent heart, following up a Doncaster success with a narrow defeat by a short-head back at that track last time, and another bold showing looks on the cards despite a further rise in the weights. Invincible Ruby arrives on the back of a battling Carlisle success, getting up by a mere nose, and, although the wide draw of this big field is no help, another competitive effort is expected. Ashen has also been holding his form well and, with the return to 7f likely to suit after being denied by a slender margin last time, he looks capable of being involved once more.
ROGUE EMPIRE has taken his form to a new level this season and arrives seeking a four-timer after another decisive success at Lingfield. Roger Teal's yard is in good form and, despite another rise in the weights, he looks capable of continuing his progression. Tarbat Ness was an impressive winner at Carlisle when stepped up in trip tp 17f last time and is an obvious danger if backing that up. Vaguely Royal bounced back with a convincing success at Chester and, with William Buick taking the ride, is respected despite needing to at his very best off his revised mark.
CORAL COVE made a highly encouraging debut when beaten just half a length at Doncaster and, with James Owen's yard continuing in fine form, the Lucky Vega filly looks the one to beat with the likelihood of natural improvement. Travellers Girl has progressed with each of her three starts over 6f, finishing a close third at Ripon last time, and this step up to 7f promises to suit. The First Drop also shaped with plenty of promise when runner-up at Carlisle at rewarding odds and should have plenty more to offer with that experience behind him.
Nine-year-old ABERAMA GOLD showed he retains plenty of enthusiasm when only narrowly denied at Catterick last time and, now back below his last winning mark, the in-form veteran can make his presence felt again despite a wide draw in this max field of 22. Rajaking has been knocking on the door in competitive handicaps and looks on a workable mark if reproducing his latest Newmarket effort, when denied by a length in third last time. Magic Boy arrives on the back of a slender C&D success and, although another 4lb rise makes life tougher, he has been regularly competitive in his short career and shouldn't be ruled out.
DIAMOND RAIN was only denied by a short-head in the Group 3 Hoppings Fillies' Stakes last time and, already a dual Listed winner, sets the standard returned to this grade. Charlie Appleby's filly has been holding her own in stronger company on both sides of the Atlantic and looks the one they all have to beat. Qilin Queen failed to fire in the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh after racing too freely, but that effort is easy enough to forgive and her high-class form from last season makes her a major player. Miss Justice has acquitted herself well in good company on her last two starts and, as a previous Listed winner, is another with the class to make her presence felt.
SPACE BEAR has generally been running consistently well in competitive sprint handicaps and was only beaten just over a length at Doncaster last time. Off the same mark, another bold bid looks likely. Go Vince Go showed much more back over the minimum trip here on his latest start and, now below his last winning mark, looks capable of getting involved again. Dolos Dream is worth another chance after a disappointing effort over 6f last time and, back over her preferred 5f on fast ground, could bounce back to the form of her Pontefract success two starts ago.
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