Wednesday, York, Britain, post time: 15:35, THE JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL STAKES-G1, £1,319,375, 3yo/up, 10f 56yT
Field: Birr Castle (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}), Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Daryz (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
TDN Verdict: As fascinating as it should be, one of Britain's monuments sees the Eclipse one-two Delacroix and Ombudsman re-engage with a different pace scenario thanks to the addition of Birr Castle. Danon Decile has also made it in the past and the presence of the triple Group 1 winner will ensure that this is a proper test worthy of the race title. Bearing in mind how impressive Calandagan was when beaten 12 months ago, the fact that the Japanese raider was able to beat him comfortably in the Sheema Classic bodes well for his prospects. See The Fire is a different animal at this track and her 12-length win in the course-and-distance Middleton puts her firmly in the mix in the race her dam Arabian Queen captured 10 years ago. [Tom Frary].
Wednesday, York, post time: 15:00, THE SKY BET GREAT VOLTIGEUR STAKES-G2, £267,500, 3yo, c/g, 11f 188yT
Field: Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Carmers (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Pride Of Arras (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Arabian Force (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Mount Kilimanjaro (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Stay True (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Thrice (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
TDN Verdict: Lambourn becomes the first Derby winner to run in this since Reference Point and in all likelihood will be Arc-bound after given how well his stablemate Scandinavia has done in the staying tests this summer. The St Leger is the destination for his chief rival, the Queen 's Vase winner Carmers, who also has a penalty while Aidan O'Brien dominates numerically and the Lingfield Derby Trial runner-up Stay True also appeals as a Leger candidate. Pride Of Arras has to put two poor runs behind him, but the manner of his Dante success in May sticks in the memory.
[Tom Frary].
Wednesday, York, post time: 14:25, THE TATTERSALLS ACOMB STAKES-G3, £165,000, 2yo, 7fT
Field: Distant Storm (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Gewan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Goodwood Galaxy (GB) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Italy (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), May Angel (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Rochfortbridge (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Sovereign Ocean (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}).
TDN Verdict: Godolphin and Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Stars Distant Storm and Italy cross paths, as the yards' Ruling Court and The Lion In Winter did 12 months ago in this significant 2,000 Guineas pointer. Italy was second to Distant Storm's stablemate Saba Desert in the Superlative, so Charlie Appleby may have an inkling as to how this will go and Aidan O'Brien will be hoping for a change of luck with his two-year-olds having started so strongly. Andrew Balding also has some smart juveniles in 2025 and saddles Gewan, who scored on debut in the Newbury novice that the stable's Chaldean took three years ago before adding this to his tally. [Tom Frary].
Thursday, York, Britain, post time: 15:35, THE PERTEMPS NETWORK YORKSHIRE OAKS-G1, £600,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 11f 188yT
Field: Estrange (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Garden Of Eden (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Qilin Queen (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}).
TDN Verdict: There may be a dual Oaks winner, a Lancashire Oaks winner and Malleret and Ribblesdale winners here, but to have four runners from three stables in such a prestige event should send alarm bells ringing for racing's general state of health. That aside, the thoroughly likeable Minnie Hauk has significant pulling power taking on one older rival in Estrange. Just how far the white wonder can push Ballydoyle's filly is the story of the race, with the other three-year-olds seemingly a level below what is required. [Tom Frary].
Thursday, York, post time: 13:50, THE SKY BET LOWTHER STAKES-G2, £250,000, 2yo, f, 6fT
Field: America Queen (Ire) (Havana Grey {GB}), Argentine Tango (GB) (Mattmu {GB}), Come On Eibhlin (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Dandana (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), Mood Queen (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Pearl Fortune (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Royal Fixation (GB) (Palace Pier {GB}), Secret Hideaway (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Staya (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Timeforshowcasing (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Wor Faayth (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}).
TDN Verdict: Jaber Abdullah has won five of these and, judged by the way America Queen went through her debut at Haydock last month, it could well be half a dozen by the end of play. Very few juveniles win any sort of maiden or novice by 12 lengths and the fact that she is grey will make her a popular winner on the Knavesmire to boost Richard Hughes's already profitable summer. Runner-up to Venetian Sun in the Duchess Of Cambridge, Royal Fixation looks to build on Palace Pier's strong start to his stud career, while others with proven Stakes form are the Listed Dragon Stakes winner and Princess Margaret runner-up Staya and Listed Empress Stakes winner and Molecomb runner-up Argentine Tango. [Tom Frary].
Thursday, Leopardstown, post time: 18:25, TOTE IRISH EBF VINNIE ROE STAKES-Listed, €27,000, 3yo, 14fT
Field: Defiantly (Fr) (Kameko), Eastwatch (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Galveston (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Happy Pharoah (Ire) (American Pharoah), Lombardi Trophy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Vorfreude (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), Denim And Diamonds (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Floresta (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}), Nuit (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
TDN Verdict: To come.
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