By Tony Calvin - 22 August 2025
I was staggered to see that Marhaba The Champ changed hands for a mere 8,000 guineas just five days after his neck second at Doncaster.
Maybe some thought he presented badly at that Tattersalls sale on July 8, but that seemed an incredibly low price, albeit he is a 6yo.
Sophie Leech (who admittedly hasn’t had a Flat winner in the UK for 1,443 days, so the Racing Post tells me!) could have bought him to go hurdling I suppose, but she could have a massive, quick return on that modest outlay as I reckon she could get £7,248 for fourth here, and possibly even greater riches in this 120k handicap.
The turnout for the race is undeniably poor (11 runners is nine shy of the maximum) and Marhaba The Champ comes here in good form – though he was raised 4lb for that Donny run last time – and with excellent winning form at this track.
Indeed, he won this very race, for previous trainer Kevin Ryan, by 1 ¼ lengths off a 3lb higher mark in 2023 and I just don’t get the price – his current odds and that sales price.
It could be that he looked like a bag of shit going through the ring but the taken 33s and 28s looked bang wrong and the general 25s now still looks generous (granted, there is some guesswork involved and he could be the type to be very weak on Betfair near the off).
Indeed, one firm are offering 28s and four places (see Oddschecker).
This Songisforyou is out with a bruised foot.
A disappointment for a race worth 250k, let’s be honest.
Initially I couldn’t see any angle in here, unless you wanted to lay Trawlerman (though he is weak at 1.8, so others have obviously had the same idea) and hope pace rival Al Qareem bothers him up top and gets him out of his comfort zone.
But then I thought Dubai Future could be worth an interest, so on Thursday afternoon, I managed to back him at 33s outright, at 12s without Trawlerman and at 9s without Trawlerman and Shackleton (Ryan Moore isn’t riding him as he’d struggle to do 8st 8lb).
An impressive winner of the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in April (Trawlerman fifth), I thought he ran an extraordinary (well that may be pushing it) race to finish third in the proper Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, given he came from miles off the pace.
I had a pop at him at a big price in the Goodwood Cup last time and he was underwhelming to be honest but, even so, 33s seemed to underestimate him yesterday, as I can see him being ridden very chilly again here with an eye to being produced late, hopefully after Al Qareem (possibly not a copper-bottomed stayer at 2m) has softened up the favourite on the front end.
I thought he was worth at interest on three different lines at the prices, and the general 25s look okay.
They watered a bit at York last night (see below), but the ground should be fine for this fast-ground lover.
A friend sent me a text yesterday, and I winced.
It was from July 19 (my birthday but seemingly not theirs….) and it screenshot of a message, basically telling him to back Wise Approach at 10s and 8s for the Gimcrack.
He did and I imagine all concerned were mortified when he wasn’t confirmed for this race on Wednesday morning.
Against this opposition, he would have been a 2s-on chance, and probably a bet at that.
As it is, the 105-rated maiden Do Or Do Not heads the betting at [7/4].
Undoubtedly, a solid citizen (and you can see why they are putting headgear on him as he has looked a bit of a thinker on occasion) but he wouldn’t strike fear into many Group 2s.
He is the one to beat but a few of these will be fancying their chances, notably Lifeplan. Declan Carroll could have a good one on his hands here, as the colt ran out a tidy, well-backed winner at Thirsk on his debut in a good time.
And the owner was suitably bullish afterwards.
I’d like to see him win, but I am not betting on it. He has been well covered at [11/2] and a general [5/1], though they are bigger prices than he was trading at yesterday morning.
Comical Point could be okay each way at 10s if all eight go here. But I’ll only be betting nearer the off once I see they all run, as I want all three places on my side here.
A fair fifth in the Norfolk, he went too hard from the front when flopping in the July Stakes last time and he could bounce back if Oisin Murphy turns on the clock in his head this time.
Everyone knows the sprint division is absolute gash and that is hammered home here with the top-rated Asfoora on 114.
And she is probably only a second-tier speedster in Australia, for all she is a Royal Ascot winner over here.
I wouldn’t be a major fan of 2yos running in this race, getting ridiculous amounts of weight, because I have no idea how to assess them.
Selfish, obviously….
I’d be inclined to ignore them to make it easier for me and take my medicine if they win, especially in the case of [5/1] Lady Iman at the price – though she was a point lower on Thursday morning – and look elsewhere, for all Spicy Marg is more attractively priced at 16s.
All the pace looks middle-to-high here, so I think Night Raider at 14s+ on Betfair is the way to play this.
Perhaps with an in-running lay, attached.
He is currently 12s best, fixed-odds, but he is [17.0] on Betfair as this goes live. Any 14s+ is fine, win only.
He was a bit underwhelming in his two starts after a good third over 6f here in May (shaped well and certainly like a speedball) but he won his side in the King George last time on ground that may not have been ideal, and I can see him tearing it up over this fast five down the middle.
If he lasts home then all well and good, but hopefully he will trade 2s or shorter in the run if not, and I’ll be out for a free bet in the final furlong.
I’d also give the Ed Walker pair of Mgheera, my old mate, and Celandine a shout at 11s and 40s respectively, but it’s a tough race and I’m happy with just the solo play.
To be honest, I may have small, saver nibbles on the latter pair just in case, but maybe not.
Bint Al Daar could be worth chancing in first-time cheekpieces.
Her small stable don’t have a good record with this angle (see below) but I am willing to take the risk at 22s.
Regular readers will not be surprised to know I have never heard of Alfie Gee, as I never pay much attention to jockeys, but his record wouldn’t put you off (two winners from 18 runners, with another 11 placed second or third – so impressive).
She ran better on her second start for the stable here last time and, although she is set to run off a 2lb lower mark in the future, she is weighted to go okay.
She is 7lb lower than for her midfield run over a mile in the Kensington Palace at Royal Ascot, and this is more her trip, as her form for her previous handler underlined. Indeed, she finished second in this race last season.
The dam improved a touch for cheekpieces too, so hopefully they can perk her daughter up a bit.
She is a general 22s, four places, for each-way punters and [30.0] on Betfair as this piece goes live, and drifting. I had a very small bet win-only on the exchange, but if she drifts out on the fixed-side I will play her each way, too.
She has just hit 28s, and that is big enough for me to play each way to small stakes.
Zgharta has a big old chance but she has been pretty well found in the market now at [11/4], and even that price could be coming under pressure soon (only available in one place).
In fact, that [11/4] has literally just been taken at 7am.
Ideally, I’d not want to lose if she wins (as I expect she will win), so I may have a small interest here if she drifts – which doesn’t seem likely at this stage, to be honest.
The 100k Convivial Maiden Stakes.
This should really be a very good spot for Naval Light, whose evens defeat at the hands of Stellar Sunrise at Goodwood last time was given a far better look when the winner obliged in style off 89 here yesterday and the third was a very close fourth here on Wednesday.
I wouldn’t lay the [11/4] myself – he was [10/3] at one stage yesterday – for all this is a race of unknowns and I won’t be betting.
We know this this colt is pretty good.
Explosive Finnish in a NR (no rule 4).
Fifth Column looks a fair price at [17/2].
Three from five this season, and up 11lb in the process, he ran slightly below expectations when beaten 3 lengths when a [9/2] chance at Goodwood last time.
However, I think this track could suit him better, as will the quicker ground, and this lightly-raced and well-connected gelding could have more to offer from a mark of 97.
However, Big Leader must be the premier bet at [15/2] fixed odds – there are five places for each-way punters – and a whopping [13.0] on Betfair.
The excellent Geoff Oldroyd should have had another winner with the unlucky Air Force One in the opener on Wednesday and his unbeaten Big Leader is progressing nicely.
Just 3lb higher than when winning at Thirsk last time – I thought he had more in hand than the winning margin at the line, scoring a touch snugly – it seems this has been the medium-term target.
After his win last time, jockey PJ McDonald said: “My only worry was that we’d gone quick and would be in trouble but, to be fair to Big Leader, he toughed it out. He’s a nice horse. He needed three runs before the Ebor meeting and we knew this track would play to his strengths. He can keep progressing and he’ll be a lovely four-year-old”.
He is a big player here and that 12s on Betfair, albeit to very small sums, is more than a touch surprising. He is my biggest bet of the day, with Fifth Column as a worthy back-up.
GOING: Good to firm, good in places
Going Stick : 6.5, Friday 8.15am
Going Stick readings in Home Straight; Far Side – 6.2; Centre – 6.4; Stands Side 6.5
Moisture metre reading – 24% .Wind speed and direction on Friday at 2pm; W cross wind 10mph gusting to 22mph.
Friday morning course update: A dry, cool and cloudy early Friday morning. Recent rainfall of 0.6mm Tuesday making 7.4mm in August. Met Office Forecast: Friday – dry and overcast,with a westerly breeze, 20 degrees. Saturday- dry and cloudy with little to no wind, 18 degrees. Live links to our weather station and to the Met Office forecast are available at www.yorkracecourse.co.uk by clicking through for Going Details on the Home page.
Rails: Planned rail positions for the meeting: Thursday rail; 3m out from 9f to entrance to Home Straight. Friday: 6m out. Saturday: tba.
Stalls: 5f, 5f 89yds, 6f and 1m 4f – Centre. Remainder – Inside Rail
Watering details (updated Friday morning): Selective irrigation took place Thursday night with 2mms replacing moisture lost, from 1m 4f start to the entrance to the home straight only. No irrigation was applied in the 6f straight. Previous irrigation of 2mms Monday night making 9mms applied in total over the last seven nights. Will continue to assess conditions regarding any further irrigation before Saturday.
Weather: Dry, overcast and 18-20 degrees
Aidan O’Brien cheekpieces 10-96 (since 2016); Shackleton. 2.25pm
Ed Walker cheekpieces 4-37 (2018); Do Or Do Not, 3pm
Kevin Ryan cheekpieces 16-172 (2016); Aint Nobody, 3.35pm
Kevin Frost cheekpieces 2-36 (2016); Bint Al Daar, 4.10pm
Karl Burke cheekpieces 16-198 (2016); Tiger Mask. 5.20pm
Hugh Palmer cheekpieces 15-129 (2016); Miami Matrix 5.20pm
Ian Williams cheekpieces 19-157 (2016); Supido 5.20pm
1.50pm York: Champagne Prince (10), Asgard’s Captain? (3), Marhaba The Champ? (11)
2.25pm York: Trawlerman (4), Al Qareem (5), Shackleton (2)
3pm York: Comical Point (4), Egoli (5), Irish Fighter (8), Reciprocated (3)
3.35pm York: Jm Jungle (13), Night Raider (8), Spartan Arrow (15), Washington Heights (17), Arizona Blaze (9), Frost At Dawn (6), She’s Quality (11), Celandine (16)
4.10pm York: Ciara Pearl (10), Roarin’ Success (3), Brielle (4), Cape Flora?, (2) Callisto Dream (7), Blessed Star (6)
4.45pm York (very limited evidence): Benny Nahar (10), Frescobaldi (7), New Monarch (8), Isle Of Fernandez (13)
5.20pm York: Tiger Mask (13), Teroomm (6), Big Leader (8), King Casper (2), We Dare To Dream (17), Sir Paul Ramsey (1)
Good: Andrew Balding, Karl Burke, Adrian Keatley, Paddy Twomey, Ralph Beckett, William Haggas (very good), Ian Williams, David O’Meara, Hugo Palmer (five recent winners), Tom Clover (another 18-1 winner last night), Ismael Mohammed, Mick Appleby, John and Sean Quinn (10-1 winner last night), Adrian Murray, Geoff Oldroyd (superb with a small string), Ed Bethell
Fair: Kevin Ryan, Ed Walker, Aidan O’Brien (two Group 1 winners or not), John and Thady Gosden, Charlie Johnston, Dylan Cunha, Newland and Insole, Gemma Tutty, Archie Watson, Clive Cox, Richard Hughes Michael Dods, Julie Camacho, Alan King (needs a winner), Jane Chapple-Hyam, Tim Easterby, Saeed bin Suroor, Declan Carroll, Jonathan Portman, Jack Davison, Ger Lyons, Daniel and Claire Kubler, Harry Charlton, Russell and Scudamore, Roger Varian, Michael Bell
Moderate: Richard Spencer, Emmet Mullins (very small sample), John Ryan, William Knight (12-1 winner of the last at York on Thursday, though), Kevin Thomas Coleman, Kevin Frost, James Ferguson
Don’t know: Tony Martin, Sophie Leech, Henry Dwyer, Paul Traynor, Phillip Makin
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