Saturday, 22 August 2026

York - Saturday 22nd August

13:50, Sky Bet Strensall Stakes

Hankelow 11/2, 1pt each-way (4 places)

This is a pretty open renewal of Saturday's opener. Damysus has the best form but the ground could be a slight worry and he's been a little regressive of late. Instead preference is for Karl Burke's 3 year old Hankelow. The son of Night Of Thunder ran a cracker to finish 3rd in the French Guineas before flopping in their Derby. He's still full of promise though and after a break he comes here with big chances at the weights against some exposed older horses. 

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14:25, Sky Bet Melrose Handicap

Mythical Bay 6/1, 2pts each-way (5 places)
Sharkeyboy 17/2, 2pts each-way (5 places)

A really strong renewal of the Melrose sees any number of unexposed 3 year olds hold chances. Mythical Bay does look to have been plotted up for this though, having been absent since winning over this trip at Newmarket last month. He's really started to progress of late now he's getting to grips with his racing and still looks ahead of his mark. Conditions are not a worry for the son of New Bay and connections have an excellent record in this race. Willie Mullins has been farming the Ebor of late but he brings a maiden to this race with a big chance. Sharkeyboy finished 2nd in a big field handicap at Galway last time out but the run can be marked up as he raced on the outside for the whole race and was just gunned down in the last strides. He looks well in off a mark of 88 and Saffie Osbourne is a great booking in the saddle. 

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15:00, Sky Bet City Of York Stakes

Zavateri 15/2, 2pts each-way (4 places)

A classy edition of this Group 1 and multiple top level winner Notable Speech will take the world of beating if he runs his race but it's worth remembering he isn't always the most consistent and Rosallion was beaten at short odds in this race. Instead, preference is for the 3 year old Zavateri. The son of Without Parole ran well on seasonal comeback to finish 3rd in the Greenham when he should have gone closer. He didn't run again until the Sussex but put up a massive run to finish 5th and will be fitter for it. Conditions are no concern as the colt won a Group 1 in Ireland on easy ground last year from Gstaad and he's still unexposed. 

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15:35, Sky Bet Ebor Handicap

Daiquiri Bay 10/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
Klassleader 7/1, 2pts win

Always a classic race this. The Ebor looks as classy a renewal as ever although Willie Mullin's mystery runner has been well supported down to clear favourite. Love Me Tender could be miles well in but he's short enough in the betting now and so preference is for William Haggas's Klassleader. The lightly raced 4 year old looked an Ebor winner in the making when winning at York in the spring and has only been seen the once since. He wasn't at his best the last day but this will have been the plan all along and is still unexposed. Daquiri Bay has been shooting up the handicap this season but justifiably so after wins at Newmarket and Ascot. He's been put away since for this but looks a much better horse than when 3rd in the Melrose last year and the ease in the ground won't be a worry. He could be working his way towards being a group horse. 

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York - Saturday 22nd August

13:50, Sky Bet Strensall Stakes Hankelow 11/2, 1pt each-way (4 places) This is a pretty open renewal of Saturday's opener. Damysus has t...