“Mr Bell and I both thought beforehand that she was more of an Oaks filly, but she needed experience as well. She was staying on nicely at the end. She’s never had a smack in her life, she’s still relatively inexperienced, but this will be a good trial for her – we’ll know where we are for the rest of the year after this. I’d be disappointed if she got beat or if she’s not there or thereabouts. Her sister stayed two miles so I think she’ll stay all right.”
The ground on the Knavesmire ahead of the three-day meeting is on the firm side. Clerk of the course William Derby said: “We’ve only had a millimetre of rain in the last seven days so we have put on some water,” said clerk of the course William Derby.
“We put on 5mm on Monday afternoon and a further 5mm on Tuesday morning so the going is good to firm, on the easy side of that.
“The forecast for the week ahead has slightly improved as the week has gone on with an 85% chance of remaining dry through the week.”
On the seven-race card the Duke Of York Blue Square Stakes over six furlongs looks one of the most competitive events of the week. But under Liverpool jockey Liam Jones the William Haggas-trained King’s Apostle looks to hold sound claims of at least making the frame after his eye-catching seventh on his seasonal debut over an inadequate five furlongs in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.
YORK PREDICTIONS (Day One):
1.40pm Albaqaa
2.10pm Ishe Mac
2.40pm (Musidora Stakes) High Heeled
3.10pm King's Apostle (NAP)
3.45pm Rosbay
4.20pm Ventura Cove
4.55pm Bin End
