Sam King looks through all five races shown live on ITV Racing from York on Saturday.
R1 - Sky Bet Strensall Stakes – (1:50)
Gladius needs a close look for a yard that won this twelve months ago with See The Fire but it's fellow three-year-old Bowmark who makes more appeal here. John and Thady Gosden's charge looked every inch a high-class prospect when winning a novice event here before pulling too hard when upped in distance for the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. He should relish dropping back to nine furlongs on this track and will also appreciate this ease in grade.
R2 - Sky Bet Melrose Handicap – (14:25)
Andrew Balding has won this twice in the last five years, including with the subsequent top-level stayer Coltrane in 2020. There's no doubt that his latest contender Tarriance will have to improve plenty to reach those heights but he's clearly progressive and does hold an entry in the St Leger Stakes. A well-bred son of Frankel, he looked good when knuckling down well to make a winning handicap debut at Sandown last time and with further progress on the cards, he should have strong claims of following up off a 4lb higher mark.
R3 - Sky Bet City Of York Stakes - (15:00)
Rosallion holds obvious claims dropping back to seven furlongs following excellent efforts in the Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes, but he's short enough in the betting as a result and at the prices, Maranoa Charlie gets the nod. The French raider has developed into something of a seven-furlong specialist, winning three of his four outings over the trip and finishing an excellent second in the Prix Jean Prat on the other last time out. This flat galloping track should play to the strengths of one who is expected to be ridden quite aggressively, while it's possible he could still have more to offer racing in his regained headgear.
R4 - Sky Bet Ebor Handicap - (15:35)
Majestic Warrior has the potential to prove a cut above his mark of 98. There's clearly been issues along the way with him as James Tate's five-year-old has only raced four times in his career to date, but it's hard to doubt his ability given that fact he's won three of those outings in fine style. A facile winner on his handicap debut at Thirsk following over 500 days off, Majestic Warrior will have to take another step forward if he's to defy a 9lb higher mark in tougher company but it's hard to gauge just how good he might be and this further step up in trip can bring about extra improvement. He's a half-brother to 2020 Ebor winner Fujaira Prince and James Tate has made it no secret that this has been the plan ever since his comeback success.
R5 - Sky Bet Constantine Handicap - (16:10)
The top weight Two Tribes will likely prove popular as he bids to follow up huge handicap successes in the International and Stewards' Cup, but this track hasn't always brought out the best in him and he's up further in the weights here. I'm happy to take a chance on Jordan Electrics again, three days on from getting no run in a competitive handicap at this venue. Connections clearly feel he's in good heart to turn him out so quickly, while it's tough to get away from the fact he's 1lb lower than when runner-up Jm Jungle at this meeting twelve months ago. He ran an absolute blinder to finish a close ninth from the wrong side of the track in the Stewards' Cup two starts ago and can offer some decent each-way value if getting a clean bite at the cherry this time around.
